Continued efforts to search for 4-month-old baby suspected of falling into canal

Authorities deployed search operations.

Since morning, local authorities, the U Minh Thuong Fire Prevention and Rescue Team, An Bien Commune Police and militia have mobilized vehicles and divers to continuously search for the child in an area of more than 5km along Xeo Ro canal and Thu Ba - An Bien canal.

Speaking to reporters, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Bien Commune, Vo Thanh Toan, said that immediately after the incident, the commune held an urgent meeting to deploy search and rescue work and stabilize security and order. The commune mobilized many coordinated forces, divided into 3 groups, using 3 diving hulls to search parallel to the canal bank in the direction of the high tide. The search area was also expanded to the direction of Cai Lon River and along the Third Canal.

The suspected partition area where the baby fell.

The communal union helped the family reinforce the exposed wall.

From the afternoon of October 20 to noon of October 21, the local government, the Fatherland Front and organizations of An Bien commune visited and encouraged the family many times, initially provided 10 million VND in support and helped reinforce the exposed wall to ensure the safety of the family members.

Mr. Vo Thanh Toan added: “The family is near-poor and is temporarily living on State land. The People's Committee of the old Thu Ba town has considered supporting the house building according to the policy many times, but due to lack of land, it has not been possible to implement it. After the administrative unit merger, the People's Committee of An Bien commune continues to review the entire list of poor and near-poor households in the area to update and consider support according to regulations. The commune is reviewing the records to have appropriate and timely assistance for Ms. Kieu's family.”

Many curious people gathered to watch the search work along the Tuesday canal, An Bien commune.

When the news of the incident spread, many curious people flocked to the canal, to houses, and stood on the Third Bridge to watch. Police had to be on duty to guide people to move, to avoid gathering too much and affecting security and order.

Local authorities hope that people will remain calm, not gather in large numbers, and limit the spread of unverified information that can cause public panic and affect rescue work and security and order.

The anxious mother waited for news of her missing child.

Ms. Kieu's family has 5 children, is a near-poor household, and lives in difficult circumstances. Every day, she sells lottery tickets, her husband works as a hired hand at sea, so the young children are mainly taken care of by their mother. Ms. Kieu recounted: "That night, I slept with my children, the youngest one lay on the edge for fear of being crushed by the older siblings. When I woke up, I couldn't see my child, only the mosquito net was thrown, part of it fell into the river. The child had only learned to roll over a few days ago, and couldn't crawl yet. I thought my child had fallen into the river, so I immediately called the police."

News and photos: BAO TRAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tiep-tuc-no-luc-tim-kiem-chau-be-4-thang-tuoi-nghi-roi-xuong-kenh-a464629.html