On the afternoon of 21/8, a group of male high school students from Hoang Son commune rode their motorbikes to Hai Tien tourist area. While swimming, a large wave suddenly swept three of them – Tran Minh Duc, Le Van Son, and Nguyen Duc Thang – dozens of meters from the shore.
Bystanders rushed to help and were able to rescue Thang, who was brought to shore and given first aid. He is now in stable condition. The other two students disappeared.
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Police expand the search area for the missing victim at Hai Tien. Photo: Lam Son |
Police expand the search area for the missing victim at Hai Tien. Photo: Lam Son
The Thanh Hoa Provincial Police Search and Rescue force deployed 20 officers and soldiers, working with the Hoang Truong Border Guard Station and the families. They used canoes and motorboats in the search, which lasted for several hours. After 8 PM that day, Duc's body was found in a clam bed near the But Pagoda gate, about 500 meters from where the students were swept away.
Throughout the night and into the following morning, the police continued to expand the search area to Van Loc, Hoang Tien, and Hoang Dong communes, covering dozens of kilometers. The remaining student has not yet been found.
A Hoang Tien commune police official said the area where the students were swept away is a swimming area near a river mouth, known for its large waves and undercurrents. At the time of the incident, the sea at Hai Tien was rough, with few visitors.
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Canoes continue to be deployed to the scene. Photo: Lam Son |
Canoes continue to be deployed to the scene. Photo: Lam Son
"The missing student may have been swept further offshore towards Ne Island (4-5 km away), or towards the clam farms in the former Hau Loc district," a representative of the rescue team said.
Hai Tien beach resort is about 20 km from the former Thanh Hoa city and more than 170 km from Hanoi. It is known for its long, pristine beach, stretching approximately 12 km with white sand, gentle waves, and fresh air. In recent years, Hai Tien has attracted many tourists from northern Vietnam.
Le Hoang
