On the afternoon of 22/5, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu, 11, drove an electric motorbike carrying Nguyen Quang Quy, 13, and Nguyen Tuan Hung, 11. All three, from Hamlet 2, Minh Trung village, Truong Giang commune, went to the Tra Khuc river section passing through Hamlet 4, Minh Khanh village, to swim. While playing, they were swept away by the current and went missing.

Local authorities mobilized police, militia, and dozens of residents to search along the incident area throughout the night. The section of the river where the children drowned, on the north bank of Truong Giang commune, features a wide sandbank where many people camp and swim. However, the southern side of the river has deep sections with strong currents.

The area where the students met with an accident on the afternoon of 22/5. *Photo: Pham Linh*

By approximately 6 am on 23/5, residents discovered Nhu's body in Hamlet 2, Minh Thanh village, and Quy's body in Hamlet 4, Minh Khanh village. Nearly three hours later, authorities found Hung's body. Agencies are investigating the cause of the incident.

The Tra Khuc river, the largest in Quang Ngai, has been the site of many drownings. Ten years ago, 9 male students in Nghia Ha commune, now An Phu commune, died trying to save a friend in this river.

Recently, a series of student drownings have occurred in various localities just after the school year ended and summer vacation began. On 18/5, 5 students from grades 7-8 died while swimming in the Lo river after exam review sessions in Phu Tho. Two days prior, 4 students in Hoa My commune, Dak Lak, were also swept away and died while swimming in the Banh Lai river.

Statistics show that nearly 2,000 Vietnamese children die annually from drowning, placing Vietnam among the highest mortality rates due to this cause in the Western Pacific region.

Pham Linh