The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has a new plan to prevent drowning accidents in their city. The Department plans to ask all city districts to inspect dam sluice gates, ponds and construction sites and implement measures to set up fences and warning boards at these sites. City districts would also be charged with providing drowning prevention information to locals.

This plan comes in the wake of a horrifying drowning incident that occurred on Monday, May 3. Four girls aged between 9 and 12 years drowned in a fish pond in Binh Tan District after one girl fell into the pond and the other three tried to rescue her. Financial support has been given to the families, said a spokesman from the Binh Tan District People’s Committee.

The People’s Committee has also told commune level People’s Committees to review the status of ponds in their local areas and encourage residents to fill the ponds with earth and discontinue their use. Those residents who do not fill their ponds must set up fences and warning boards around the ponds.

This article can be viewed in its original form on the Viet Nam News English Language website HERE.

Amy Peden, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia

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