The bodies of a 68-year-old man and his 14-year-old granddaughter were recovered on the morning of February 20. Earlier, rescuers had found the man’s wife and another granddaughter, aged three, who also died in the incident.
Authorities and residents searching for victims of the boat sinking on February 19 (Photo: Nhat Anh).
The victims were among seven relatives travelling together to pay Lunar New Year visits when the accident occurred in Quang Tri Province.
According to local officials, the group was crossing the river by motorised boat when the engine suddenly stalled midstream. As the elderly man attempted to fix the problem, the engine unexpectedly revved, causing the vessel to spin sideways and overturn, throwing all passengers into the water.
A passing boat operator witnessed the incident and managed to rescue a 36-year-old woman and her two sons, the only survivors.
Local authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident while urging residents to strengthen safety precautions when travelling by boat, particularly during the busy Tet holiday period.
