A scene of mourning covers the countryside along the Red River
As reported, by the morning of November 20, authorities had found the bodies of five 8th grade students from Hien Quan Secondary School (Hien Quan Commune, Tam Nong District) who drowned and went missing after going out to play on the banks of the Red River on the afternoon of November 18.
Arriving at Hien Quan commune on the afternoon of November 20, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters could not help but feel sad when witnessing the scene of mourning and sadness covering this peaceful countryside along the Red River.
Here, from passersby to locals, from the elderly to the young, everyone could not hide the sadness and regret on their faces at such a tragic event in their homeland.
Everywhere in the village, people wearing mourning scarves could be seen, and occasionally hearses could be seen coming and going. In the area near the People's Committee of Hien Quan commune, hearing the sound of trumpets and drums from funerals mixed together was heartbreaking.
Over the past few days, the friends of the 5 unfortunate students, the students of Hien Quan Secondary School, must have cried a lot, but when they came to see their friends off on their final journey, their tears still kept falling, they held hands, everyone's eyes were red and swollen.
Arriving at Hien Quan Secondary School where the children study, there is no innocent laughter of the students, nor is there any atmosphere to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day November 20. The school is quiet and desolate when the children leave, leaving behind unfinished pink pages of books.
Ms. Chu Thi Sinh - a vendor in front of Hien Quan Secondary School, tearfully recounted that before the incident, when the children finished practicing the performance to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day and went to the school gate to take pictures, they were all very obedient and innocent.
"Until now, I still cannot believe what happened. I have not been able to sleep for the past few nights. I feel exhausted and haunted, unable to stop thinking about the image of my children being close and happily taking pictures of each other. They were all so pretty and adorable. Just recently, and now they are no longer here. It is so heartbreaking" - Ms. Sinh choked up.
Need the participation of the whole society
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Hoang Dang Thuong - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Tam Nong district - shared that the unit went to Hien Quan commune to encourage and express condolences to the families of the children: "It is very sad and heartbreaking, the parents and grandparents of the children fainted. In the coming time, when the families have finished taking care of the children and are stable, the unit will arrange resources to support the families".
According to Mr. Thuong, on November 20, the Provincial People's Committee issued a document requesting the strengthening of drowning prevention and control. In Tam Nong district, the annual drowning prevention and control program is still fully implemented by schools. However, after this incident, the unit will direct schools to review everything and further strengthen propaganda and education on drowning and injury prevention and control.
"To improve the effectiveness of drowning prevention work, it is also necessary to have more active participation and coordination between families, schools and the whole society.
This year, the education sector of Tam Nong district has experienced many unprecedented events, from the death of a good teacher at Tu My Secondary School in a traffic accident to the effects of the Phong Chau bridge collapse. Now, this tragic incident has occurred. I hope that the press will share the pain and loss of the sector in general, the people and students in particular," Mr. Thuong confided.
