Rescuers and locals recover the body of a drowning victim in Dur Kmal Commune, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, April 12, 2026. Photo: Hoang Minh
Local authorities in Dur Kmal Commune confirmed that 14-year-old V.N.K. drowned while swimming in a river on Sunday afternoon.
His body was recovered at about 7:30 pm the same day.
Also on Sunday, two students from Vu Bon Middle School in Tan Tien Commune, including eighth grader T.P.D.K. and sixth grader V.A.T., drowned after swimming in a remote pond.
Both came from disadvantaged families, with V.A.T. living with his grandparents while his parents work away from home.
The scene of a drowning incident in Vu Bon Commune, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Photo: Hoang Minh
Earlier, on Saturday, two boys aged 10 and 13 drowned at Tac Mnga reservoir in Ea Ning Commune while accompanying their uncle to catch fish.
They were found more than an hour after going missing and could not be revived despite emergency care.
The series of drownings is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by children in rural areas, especially during hot weather when swimming in rivers and ponds becomes more common.
