At approximately 13h45, Huyen, 33, and her 8-year-old son, Le Quang Bao, residents of Phuc Trach commune, joined relatives at a stream in the Con Su area, Trai Ngoai, Huong Khe commune, for a cooling swim. Moments later, they slipped into a deep pool and drowned.

Relatives attempted a rescue, but it was unsuccessful. The bodies of the two victims were recovered minutes later.

Local authorities stated the stream features several sections deeper than 2 meters. Huyen and her son had been visiting paternal relatives in Phu Gia commune (now Huong Khe commune) that afternoon before deciding to swim, leading to the accident.

Residents gather at the victims' home to prepare for the funeral, 8/7 afternoon. *Photo: Hung Le*

Streams in communes formerly part of Huong Khe district are often wide, with deep and slippery sections. Local authorities had previously installed warning signs about drowning risks, particularly for children during the summer months.

Ha Tinh province, covering nearly 6,000 square kilometers, features diverse terrain from mountains to coastal plains. It has numerous rivers, streams, lakes, and dams integrated into residential areas, alongside a coastline stretching approximately 137 kilometers. With over 1,6 million residents, children comprise a significant portion of the population. The province records dozens of drowning incidents each year, with 2025 seeing 20 incidents resulting in 21 child fatalities.

On 19/5, the Prime Minister issued a directive to enhance child drowning prevention. It mandates the Ministry of Education and Training to finalize swimming programs for students from grade 1 to grade 12, improve drowning prevention knowledge and skills, and coordinate student management during summer breaks.

Duc Hung