According to local authorities, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on May 21 in the stream area bordering Quang Thanh and Quang Thinh communes, Hai Ha District.

"At the time, the water in the stream was shallow. However, due to sudden rainfall upstream, water levels surged rapidly and the children couldn’t make it back to shore in time," a representative of the Hai Ha District People's Committee explained.

Immediately after the incident, rescue teams were deployed. Three students were saved, while one was found without signs of life. By 8:35 p.m. the same evening, another body was recovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to two. Two students remain missing, and search efforts continue overnight.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, Nghiem Xuan Cuong, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations and direct search efforts.

Provincial and district officials also visited healthcare centers to offer support and condolences to the victims' families and dispatched teams to assist with funeral arrangements in the affected communes.

Initial investigations identified the seven students involved as: H.C.D.T., B.T.Q., T.T.K., T.D.K., N.V.H., N.H.N., and a child referred to as T.

Local authorities reiterated that the stream typically has shallow water. However, the sudden rush from upstream rainfall created a strong current that caught the children off guard.

Rescue teams continue their search for the two missing children amid difficult terrain and changing water conditions.

Pham Cong