Vice chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Nghiem Xuan Cuong, and leaders of Hai Ha District arrive to instruct the rescue work on the evening of May 21.
The incident occurred at 4.30 pm on Wednesday at Hai An Dam in Ha Ha District. The group of seven students came to swim in the stream in the calm weather, with no signs of rain or rising water. However, heavy upstream rains caused a sudden flood that swept them away.
Nearby residents heard the cries for help and rushed to pull three students to safety.
As soon as the tragedy was reported, local authorities urgently mobilised hundreds of police officers, soldiers, militia members, and local residents to launch a search.
Around two hours later, the rescue force found one student and rushed him to the district’s health centre, but the victim died shortly afterwards.
By 8.35 pm the same day, another student was also found dead.
Rescue efforts remain underway to locate the two missing victims.