4 S.Korean tourists die as jeep flips over due to flash flood in Vietnam
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 10:01 GMT+7
A jeep flipped over after being hit by a flash flood at a tourist site in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, on Tuesday at noon, leaving all four South Korean tourists dead and the driver slightly injured, authorities confirmed on the same day.
The four deceased victims, including two men and two women, were identified as K.S.O., 79; K.J.H., 76; K.J.O., 74; and K.M.J., 68.
The fatal incident took place at a shallow stream in Cu Lan Village, a tourist attraction in Lac Duong District, some 25 kilometers away from Da Lat City, a popular tourist destination in the upland province.
A flash flood struck the stream and turned the jeep upside down when the off-road vehicle was carrying the four South Korean tourists to explore the waterway.
Consequently, the tourists were swept far away, while the driver was entangled with the roots of a tree.
After a search and rescue operation was carried out, staff members of the tourist site discovered the driver and two of the tourists.
The driver suffered minor injuries. One of the two tourists was found dead and the other was pronounced dead after being hospitalized for emergency treatment.
The bodies of the remaining two were recovered later at around 4:30 pm on the same day.
The stream was in shallow water and it was not raining at the time of the incident, according to the tourist site employees.
A staff member said that traveling along the shallow stream using a jeep is among the favorite activities of visitors to Cu Lan Village.
This is the first time that a flash flood has hit the tourist site since it was put into service over 10 years ago, the staff member said.
Following the deadly incident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the same day asked the national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control, the heads of relevant ministries, and the chairperson of the Lam Dong administration to cope with the aftermath; launch an investigation to determine the root cause of the fatal incident; tackle violators that caused the incident, if any; offer assistance to the bereaved families; and others.
The government leader also expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
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| The driver, who was slightly injured in the incident, is taken out of the scene of the incident. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre |
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| The badly damaged jeep at the scene of the incident. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre |
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| Traveling along the shallow stream in a jeep is among the favorite activities of visitors to Cu Lan Village in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: M.V / Tuoi Tre |
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| Rescuers recovered the bodies of the South Korean tourists shortly after a search and rescue operation was launched. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre |
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| A bird-eye’s view of the scene of the fatal incident in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Pham Ngan / Tuoi Tre |
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