Two girls aged six and eight who went swimming with friends after school drowned on Wednesday in a pond in Banteay Chhmar commune’s Thma Dek Kes village, in Banteay Meanchey province’s Thma Puok district.
Thma Puok district police chief Chon Vuthy told The Post on Thursday that the four had finished classes at a public school at around 3pm and headed for the pond, located 200m from the village.
While swimming, one girl went to collect water lilies but got into trouble in deeper water and called for help. A friend went to her aid but also began to struggle.
The other two girls ran to get help, but their friends had drowned before villagers got to the scene.
Doctors, district police and village authorities found no injuries to suggest anything but drowning was the cause of death.
After the bodies were examined, police returned them to the families for funeral rites.
“The two girls who died were from the same village. Authorities have often warned parents and guardians to not allow their children to play in the pond. Last year, another boy also drowned there,” Vuthy said.
