Two 9-year-old boys in central Nghe An Province drowned at sea after strong waves swept them away from the shore.
The boys living in Quynh Luu District went to a local beach with their relatives at around 6 p.m. Monday, Nghe An Radio and Television reported.
As they were in the water, strong waves and whirlpools swept them away from the shore, rendering them missing.
A search ensued, only to find the body of one student who already died. The body of the other was found at around 11 p.m. the same day.
The beach area where the students were at is a popular location for locals, though signs have been erected to warn about risks of drowning.
38 cases of drowning, resulting in the death of 48 children, happened in Nghe An last year alone, according to the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Around 50 cases of drowning are recorded every year in the province on average, with around 30 children dying, most of them aged 5-16, the department said.
