A father and son were killed when a four-seat car caught fire near a tourism site in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Tuesday.

A car is burnt out by the Sea Lake in Pleiku City in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Tuesday. 

The victims were found in the burnt-out car near the Sea Lake in Pleiku City. They were identified as Trần Quốc Thi, 24, from Gia Lai Province, and his son Trần Quốc Huy, 4.

A witness told police that at around 1pm he saw the car driving down a slope leading to the lake when it came to a stop, at which point the driver got out and set the car on fire with petrol.

He then went back inside the car and drove it towards the lake, but it became stuck in between two trees near the lake, the witness said.

Local residents alerted firefighters, but they were unable to save the victims, he added.

A further investigation of the incident is underway. — VNS