9 students drowned: Prime Minister requested to strengthen teaching of swimming skills

- The Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences to the families of the victims; directed to strengthen student management, with special attention to teaching swimming skills.

On April 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued telegram No. 641/CD-TTg on overcoming the consequences of the accident that caused 9 students to drown in Tra Khuc River in Thanh Khiet village, Nghia Ha commune, Quang Ngai city (Quang Ngai province).

Accordingly, the Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. At the same time, to promptly overcome the consequences and proactively prevent drowning accidents of students in the summer, the Prime Minister requested the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province to urgently direct local authorities to visit, encourage and support the families of the drowned students and take measures to overcome the consequences.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities directed the strengthening of student and children management, organizing safe summer activities to prevent accidents; paying attention to teaching swimming skills.

Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee Tran Ngoc Cang visited and encouraged the victims' families.

The accident happened on the bank of Tra Khuc River, flowing through Thanh Khiet Village, Nghia Ha Commune, Quang Ngai City. From 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 15, people going to work across Tra River discovered many clothes and school bicycles left on the river bank but no one was there.

Suspecting a drowning accident, people shouted and joined together to rescue the victims. Locals and authorities recovered 9 bodies, consistent with what the 2 female students who were with them told the police.

Specifically, at around 1:30 p.m. on April 15, 11 students, including 9 boys and 2 girls, went to the Tra Khuc river bank to play before going to school for team activities. 9 boys went swimming, 2 girls sat playing on the bank. When they saw the boys drowning, the 2 girls panicked and ran away.

All 9 male students who drowned were 6th grade students at Nghia Ha Secondary School, Quang Ngai city and lived in the same commune.

Immediately after hearing the news of 9 students drowning, Mr. Tran Ngoc Cang, Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, went to the scene with leaders of the Department of Education and Training, Quang Ngai Provincial Youth Union, and Quang Ngai City People's Committee to express condolences and support to the families of the victims.

Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee provided emergency support of 5 million VND for each victim, Quang Ngai City Children's Fund provided 4.5 million VND, the Youth Accident Support Fund, Quang Ngai Provincial Youth Union and Quang Ngai Department of Education and Training each provided 1 million VND/victim.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province also directed the People's Committees of Quang Ngai city and Nghia Ha commune to send officials to each family to share and help families in times of trouble, and take care of the children's funerals./.