Teenager Drowns at Vietnam Quarry Weeks After Newspaper Warned of Dangers

A 19-year-old man has gone missing and is presumed drowned at the Hóa An stone quarry in Đồng Nai province, Vietnam, after swimming with friends on July 22, 2026. The incident occurred just two weeks after Báo Thanh Niên newspaper issued a warning about the deadly risks at the quarry if access was not immediately secured.

The young man, identified as H.N.K., was reportedly swimming near the shore when he ventured about 20 meters out. His friends heard him cry for help but were unable to assist due to the extreme depth of the water. Local authorities and the victim's family were present at the scene, but no one dared to enter the wide and deep lake for a search. The family subsequently hired a professional diving team.

By the afternoon, the diving team, equipped with specialized gear, began their search. However, after nearly five hours, they had not found the missing teenager. One diver, identified as T., described the search as extremely difficult due to the lake's depth and the frigid water temperatures. "We have tried to dive down many times but still haven't found him. The water below is too cold; I had to come ashore to warm up before continuing," he stated, shivering from the cold.

The tragedy underscores the persistent dangers at the Hóa An stone quarry, which Báo Thanh Niên had highlighted in early July 2026. At that time, the newspaper reported that protective fences were missing, leaving only concrete pillars, and that numerous paths led directly into the quarry without any gates or barriers. Despite these warnings and plans by the Đồng Nai Land Development Center to install secure fencing and warning signs, the area remained accessible, leading to this fatal incident.

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We have tried to dive down many times but still haven't found him. The water below is too cold; I had to come ashore to warm up before continuing.