Student Missing After Allegedly Swept into Hanoi Storm Drain

Authorities in Hanoi are continuing their search for a male student who is feared to have been swept into a storm drain amidst severe flooding caused by heavy rains. Around 10 PM on September 17, the student union of Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, where the student is enrolled, in coordination with the family, began searching for the missing first-year student from Ninh Binh province. Earlier that day, around 10 AM, the student's Honda motorcycle, bearing a Nam Dinh license plate, was discovered near the opening of a storm drain on Vien Street. The student himself has not been found. The Vien Street area has experienced widespread flooding due to intense rainfall, with reports of strong suction creating a vortex in the drain. A local resident commented, "The student is a first-year, so he might not be familiar with the roads here. It's an area with overgrown grass, so not many people usually pass through." The location where the motorcycle was found is adjacent to the storm drain. By evening, the water levels had receded significantly compared to the morning. Authorities have cordoned off the scene and are using tarpaulins to enclose the drainage hole where the student is suspected to have fallen. Specialized diving teams were deployed to search inside the drain, but no results were obtained by late night. Around 11:50 PM on September 17, the divers temporarily suspended their operations. The student's uncle stated that the family had been in contact with him the night before he went missing. His mother received notification from the authorities while at work. Hanoi has experienced widespread flooding following prolonged heavy rainfall from September 14 to noon on September 17. Rainfall at many monitoring stations exceeded 400 mm, and water levels in the city's rivers and lakes rose above alert level 2, causing significant traffic disruption and impacting residents' daily lives. Source: VnExpress