Just three days apart, two separate drowning incidents claimed the lives of nine children in Vietnam, prompting the Ministry of Health to issue an urgent directive calling for stronger prevention and safety measures nationwide.

The first tragedy occurred at around 9 a.m. on May 16, when four students - identified as N.A.H., 9, N.G.B., 11, N.B.P., 11, and N.N.B., 14 - went swimming in the Banh Lai River in Ngoc Lam 1 hamlet, Dak Lak Province.

During the swim, the children were swept away by the current and drowned.

A second incident took place on the afternoon of May 18, when a group of male middle school students from Song Lo Commune in Phu Tho Province went swimming in the Lo River.

Five of the boys drowned and died.

In response to the back-to-back tragedies, the Ministry of Health issued an emergency document requesting provincial and municipal authorities to strengthen child injury prevention measures and intensify drowning prevention efforts in accordance with existing regulations.

Authorities were instructed to step up public communication and education campaigns aimed at improving awareness and responsibility among families, schools and local communities regarding child accident prevention, particularly during the summer break and rainy season.

The ministry also asked local governments to inspect and identify dangerous areas that pose drowning risks to children, including ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, flooded zones, construction sites and water storage facilities.

Local authorities were urged to install warning signs and safety barriers while assigning personnel to monitor high-risk areas.

In addition, provinces and cities were encouraged to create more opportunities for children to learn swimming and water safety skills, with priority support for disadvantaged children and those living in areas frequently affected by drowning incidents.

Provincial health departments and hospitals were instructed to ensure adequate staffing, medicine, emergency equipment and rescue vehicles to promptly receive and treat child victims of accidents and drowning cases.

The Ministry of Health also requested local authorities to quickly visit, support and assist families whenever children are killed or seriously injured in accidents or drowning incidents, while conducting investigations to clarify the causes of each case.

N. Huyen