The scene of the accident where three people drowned in Nghệ An Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

NGHỆ AN — Three members of the same family drowned in the central province of Nghệ An on Tuesday after going swimming in the Lam River.

They were identified as Võ Thị Huế, 43; her son Trần Lý Huỳnh, 8; and her nephew Võ Công Phong. They lived in Hưng Nguyên District’s Hưng Lĩnh Commune.

At 4pm on Tuesday, Huế and the two children went for a swim in the Lam River and encountered difficulties.

At about 7pm on the same day, after seeing a motorbike and personal belongings left on the riverbank, residents raised the alarm and local authorities began a search for the victims.

About 20 rescuers searched throughout the night. 

The bodies of the three people were recovered at around 3am on Wednesday at an area near Yên Xuân Bridge in Hưng Nguyên District’s Long Xá Commune.

Earlier, a 33-year-old man from Vinh City’s Hưng Lộc Commune also drowned in the river.

According to Nguyễn Thị Tuyết, chairman of Long Xá Commune People’s Committee, due to the hot weather, people in some communes along the Lam River often go swimming together.

Drowning often occurs in the river so authorities have erected signs warning people. However, residents often ignore the warnings. — VNS