Divers are continuing their search in the river, in case further bodies turn up (Source: VNA)Quang Ngai (VNA) – Nine middle school students drowned while swimming in the Tra Khuc river in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 15, all the bodies have been recovered.
The deceased have been identified as sixth-graders of the Nghia Ha Junior High School in Nghia Ha commune, Quang Ngai city.
Nguyen Huu Cuong, a local resident, said at 14pm the same day he saw many school uniforms on the river’s bank but no one was there.
Feeling something unusual, he rushed into Thanh Khiet village to call for help. The bodies of the students were found then.
Divers are continuing their search in the river, in case further bodies turn up.
After learning about the incident, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc extended his condolences to the deceased’s families.
He also asked the provincial People’s Committee to instruct local competent agencies to visit and support these families.
The Ministry of Education and Training and the People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces were urged to increase their management over their students and organise safe activities during summer holidays with special heed paid to teaching swimming skills.
Vietnam’s rate of child drowning is one of the highest in Asia.
A recent World Health Organisation survey found that 32 children in Vietnam die from drowning every day, and the number of child drowning deaths per year is as high as 11,665.-VNA
