On January 20, Nguyen Ngoc Nhat Hoang, head of the SOS75 volunteer team in Hue, said team members had found one gold bar belonging to the tourist after it fell into the river near Thuan Hoa Ward.
“We were informed that the tourist dropped two ounces of gold, so we are continuing the search for the remaining one,” Hoang said.
Initial information showed that on January 19, the tourist was walking on the lim wood pedestrian bridge along the Huong River when the two ounces of gold, worth more than VND 300 million (approximately USD 12,000), fell into the water.
After receiving the report, SOS75 quickly arrived at the scene to assist in the search. Team members used specialised equipment and oxygen tanks to dive into the river.
Hoang said the search was carried out in difficult conditions, including darkness and deep water, and one tael was successfully recovered. However, due to depleted air tanks and a malfunction of the team’s oxygen pump, the operation was suspended in the early hours of January 20.
The SOS75 team is expected to return to the site later the same day to continue searching for the remaining gold.