Ensuring safety at streams and waterfalls in Western Nghe An

Drowning due to subjectivity and carelessness

On the afternoon of June 25, a man from Thanh Nho commune (Thanh Chuong) and his family went swimming at Thac Mua (Ngoc Lam commune). While swimming, the man slipped and hit his head on a rock, resulting in serious injuries. Although he was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, he did not survive.

A few days before, a group of people from Vinh city went to Que Phong district to attend a wedding, then went to Sao Va waterfall (Tien Phong commune). While bathing, 3 people climbed the cliff at the foot of the waterfall and slipped into deep water. Two people were fortunately rescued by members of the group, but one unfortunate woman drowned and died.

It is worth mentioning that in Sao Va there was a warning sign “Dangerous deep water area, beware of drowning” but the victims still ignored it. The victims still climbed the slippery cliff near the dangerous deep water area and did not wear life jackets when swimming.

In fact, this is not the first time drowning and injury accidents have occurred at streams and waterfalls. Nearly a year ago, also at Sao Va waterfall, a young girl was drowned and died. Before that, a man also died at the 7-storey waterfall in Hanh Dich commune (Que Phong) because he was taking photos on the cliff, slipped down the waterfall and was swept away.

At the beginning of the hot season this year, a group of people went swimming in the Giang River area in Phuc Son Commune (Anh Son), a man went to deep water and drowned. Fortunately, the people in the group discovered him in time, together they searched, pulled him to shore and organized first aid, a while later the victim woke up and gradually recovered.

Up to now, there are no specific statistics on the number of drowning cases and deaths at streams and waterfalls in the Western districts, but the number is certainly not small. The common cause of drowning cases is that the victims were subjective and careless, climbing slippery cliffs and slipping into deep water. Because they did not know how to swim and were not wearing life jackets, the victims sank, were swept away by the water and went missing, and it took the rescue team to find their bodies.

According to Mr. Lu Thanh Long - Secretary of Que Phong District Youth Union, streams and waterfalls often have slippery cliffs and unpredictable deep waters. People who come from far away often do not understand the terrain characteristics, so they are often subjective, leading to missteps and affecting their lives.

Tourists from far away who come to experience the streams and waterfalls must follow the regulations, signs and wear life jackets when swimming. Doing this will help protect yourself and those around you from the risk of drowning and injury.

- Mr. Lu Thanh Long - Secretary of Que Phong District Youth Union -

Tighten safety measures

In the Western districts, there are many streams and waterfalls with poetic and majestic beauty in the middle of the forest, which are ideal places to attract tourists to enjoy and explore. Some of the famous tourist destinations include Khe Kem waterfall, Pha Lai dam, Nuoc Moc stream (Con Cuong), 7-storey waterfall, Sao Va waterfall (Que Phong), Nha Vang waterfall, Co stream (Tuong Duong), Liep waterfall (Thanh Chuong), To stream (Nghia Dan)...

Coming to tourist attractions such as streams and waterfalls, after admiring the poetic scenery, in the hot season, visitors often want to swim in the cool water to "cool off". During the experience, some people, due to carelessness, ignore the rules and warnings, leading to tragic drowning accidents.

Arriving at Khe Kem waterfall (Con Cuong), we noticed that at the changing area there were many life jackets and life buoys available for the locals and tourists. At the same time, there were warning signs in dangerous locations such as deep water or slippery cliffs. According to Mr. Nguyen The Nhan - a rescue worker, before visiting the waterfall, visitors had to buy tickets so life jackets and life buoys were free to use.

Although life jackets were hung in a visible position, the number of people wearing life jackets when bathing at the foot of the waterfall was very small, mainly children. At that time, there were 4 people bathing at the foot of the waterfall, but only 2 people were wearing life jackets, the other two were not using any life-saving equipment.

“We regularly promote and encourage people and tourists to comply with regulations on drowning prevention. However, many people still subjectively think that because they know how to swim, they do not need life jackets,” said Nguyen The Nhan.

We continued to Khe Nuoc Moc, a famous tourist destination in Con Cuong. This place has a warning sign “Danger area, beware of drowning” but does not provide life jackets and life buoys for visitors like at Khe Kem waterfall.

At the time we were there, there were quite a few people bathing in Khe Nuoc Moc, including children, but no one was wearing a life jacket. Through discussion, some tourists said that the water level here was low, not life-threatening, so there was no need to use a life jacket or life buoy when bathing.

Liep Waterfall in Thanh Son Commune (Thanh Chuong) attracts hundreds of tourists every day to "cool off". Along the bathing area there are a series of warning signs, at the service business near the waterfall there is a life jacket rental service. Ms. Lo Thi Theu, a service business owner here, said that not all people who come to bathe at the waterfall use life jackets, only some people who cannot swim need to use them, local people rarely use life jackets.

At some other locations such as Khe Co, Khe Nam Xan, Khe Kien, Nha Vang waterfall (Tuong Duong), 7-storey waterfall, Sao Va waterfall (Que Phong), there are signs warning of deep water levels and slippery cliffs. Service businesses here also rent life jackets, but many tourists are still subjective and do not need to use them while swimming. This subjectivity and carelessness pose a potential risk of safety and sometimes leads to drowning accidents.

Right from the beginning of the tourist season, the department has issued a document requesting localities and tourism businesses to pay attention to implementing measures to ensure safety for tourists. In particular, it is important to pay attention to promoting propaganda on drowning prevention for tourists at tourist attractions such as streams and waterfalls; propagating to raise awareness of implementation, tightening measures to prevent drowning for people and tourists.

-Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism -