In Thanh Hóa province, Vietnam, a series of tragic water-related accidents over the past week has left several families grieving and local communities on high alert. These incidents, which occurred in both remote mountain streams and popular coastal areas, have underscored the persistent dangers posed by natural water bodies during the rainy season and the urgent need for heightened safety awareness.
The first incident unfolded on August 20, 2025, in the mountainous commune of Trung Lý, a region known for its lush landscapes but also for the seasonal risks that come with flash floods and swollen streams. According to reports from the Trung Lý Commune People’s Committee cited by baothanhhoa.vn, heavy rainfall began around 12:45 PM and continued until 2:00 PM, with automatic rain gauges recording a total of 19.2 millimeters between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM. As the rain intensified, the Chà Lầm stream, which cuts through Khằm 2 village, swelled rapidly, its waters growing both deeper and faster.
At approximately 2:30 PM that day, tragedy struck. Mrs. Thào Thị Dua, born in 1974, and her daughter Sùng Thị Sua, born in 2014 and a resident of Khằm 2 village, were returning home from working in the fields. Attempting to cross the Chà Lầm stream, both mother and daughter slipped and fell into the torrent. The swift current swept Mrs. Dua away, and she drowned. Her daughter, Sùng Thị Sua, went missing in the chaos.
Local authorities and villagers sprang into action, mobilizing search teams and scouring the downstream stretches of the stream. According to cafebiz.vn, the body of Mrs. Dua was discovered at around 3:20 PM, approximately 500 meters from the site of the accident. Despite the heartbreak, the search for young Sùng Thị Sua continued through the night, with hope mingling with anxiety among the rescuers and the community.
By the morning of August 21, after many hours of relentless effort, rescue teams finally located the body of the 11-year-old girl about 40 meters downstream from where she had fallen. The remains of both mother and daughter were returned to their family for burial in accordance with local customs, a somber ritual that brought the village together in mourning. Local officials and support teams visited the grieving family, offering condolences and practical assistance during their time of loss.
In the wake of the tragedy, authorities took steps to warn other residents about the dangers of crossing or working near rivers and streams during periods of heavy rain and flooding. As reported by baothanhhoa.vn, rescue forces "propagated safety warnings to local residents to increase vigilance and limit travel and labor near rivers and streams during floods to prevent accidents." Such messages, while familiar, are now delivered with renewed urgency.
Just as the community of Trung Lý was reeling from this loss, another water-related emergency was unfolding on the coast, some 100 kilometers away. On the afternoon of August 21, a group of seven teenage boys, aged 14 to 16 and all residents of Hoàng Sơn commune, set out for a day at the beach. Riding electric bicycles, they made their way to the popular Flamingo Hải Tiến tourist area in Hoàng Tiến commune, eager to enjoy the sea despite the unpredictable weather.
According to local officials cited by Vietnamnet, the boys entered the water at around 2:30 PM. An hour later, at about 3:40 PM, disaster struck. Large waves swept three of the boys—T.M.Đ., N.Đ.T. (both born in 2010), and L.V.S. (born in 2009)—out to sea. Quick-thinking beachgoers and local rescue teams managed to save N.Đ.T., pulling him from the surf and administering first aid until his condition stabilized. But T.M.Đ. and L.V.S. were not so fortunate; they were carried away by the relentless waves and vanished from sight.
The response was immediate and determined. The local fire prevention and rescue police department received the emergency call at 4:20 PM and dispatched 20 officers equipped with specialized gear, including motorized watercraft and diving equipment. Working alongside local police, border guards, and concerned residents, they combed the shoreline and scoured the waters near Hòn Bò island and the area surrounding Bút pagoda.
By 8:00 PM, as darkness fell, searchers recovered the body of one of the missing boys and returned him to his grieving family for funeral arrangements. The search for the second missing student continued through the night and into the next morning. As of 7:40 AM on August 22, according to updates from the Hoàng Tiến Commune People’s Committee, the remaining boy had still not been found, leaving his family and community in a painful limbo.
These incidents have shaken Thanh Hóa province, a region that is no stranger to the caprices of nature. The area’s rivers and streams, while lifelines for agriculture and daily life, become perilous during the monsoon months. Coastal zones, too, attract both locals and tourists, but the sea can turn treacherous with little warning, especially for those unfamiliar with strong currents and the dangers of swimming during rough weather.
Authorities have responded with a mix of compassion and caution. In addition to supporting the bereaved families, they have intensified public safety campaigns. As noted in official statements, local forces have "issued warnings to residents to increase safety awareness and avoid travel and work near rivers and streams during flood conditions." These warnings are being broadcast in schools, community centers, and through village loudspeakers, with the hope that increased vigilance will prevent further tragedies.
The impact of these events extends beyond the immediate families. In Trung Lý, the deaths of Mrs. Dua and her daughter have cast a pall over the entire village, prompting renewed discussions about infrastructure—such as the need for safer crossings over streams—and the importance of emergency preparedness. In Hoàng Sơn and Hoàng Tiến, the loss of young lives at the beach has sparked calls for better signage, lifeguard patrols, and swimming education for children and teenagers.
For the families affected, the pain is acute and deeply personal. As one official from Hoàng Tiến commune told Vietnamnet, the missing student "is the son of a family in difficult circumstances; his father had passed away just last year." Such details remind us that behind every statistic is a story of loss, resilience, and the enduring bonds of community.
As Thanh Hóa province moves forward, the lessons of these tragedies are being woven into daily life. Residents and officials alike hope that with greater awareness, improved safety measures, and continued solidarity, the risks posed by nature can be mitigated, and such heartbreaking losses can be prevented in the future.
