No life jackets, raging waters: Students cross flood-swollen river by boat in north-central Vietnam

The footage shows some six to seven schoolchildren wearing raincoats sitting in a small boat operated by an adult as it travels across the river.

Floodwaters are rushing downstream following heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the river.

None of the children is wearing a life jacket, according to the video.

Several adults standing on the riverbank watched anxiously and recorded the boat as it made its way through the powerful current.

The Tuyen Phu Commune People's Committee confirmed that the incident occurred in the area on Monday afternoon.

According to local authorities, the river's water level had risen sharply, prompting residents responsible for managing the floating bridge across the Gianh River in Dong Phu Village to dismantle it and move it to a safe location to prevent it from being swept away by the floodwaters.

Some students had crossed the river to attend school that morning while the floating bridge was still operating normally.

However, by the afternoon, rising floodwaters had made it impossible for them to return home because the bridge had already been removed.

Residents subsequently helped some of the stranded children cross the river by boat.

Following the incident, local authorities deployed police officers to the area to prevent residents from crossing the river by boat while floodwaters remained dangerously high.

Schools were also instructed to suspend classes for affected students to ensure their safety.

Dong Phu Village has 225 households with a population of more than 1,200.

The removal of the floating bridge has disrupted daily travel and left the area temporarily isolated.

"The floating bridge is currently managed by local residents and serves the community's daily transportation needs, including providing a route for students travelling to school,” said an official.

“However, whenever the river rises, the bridge must be dismantled to prevent it from being swept away.”

 Heavy downpours have hit many localities in the north-central and central regions of Vietnam.