Vietnamese authorities are working on the investigation of the death of four Korean tourists in the central highlands province of Lam Dong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today (October 26).

The scene where the jeep was flooded. Photo: nld.vn

“Local authorities are conducting further investigation of the case,” the ministry’s spokesperson Pham Thu Hang told reporters at the regular press conference.

An expected flood swept away a jeep carrying five people, including four Koreans and one Vietnamese driver, in the early afternoon of October 24.

These people were traveling to Cu Lan Village in Lam Dong Province’s Lac Duong District.

The four Korean tourists were found late that night and declared dead. The Vietnamese driver luckily survived.

The bodies were taken to the Ho Chi Minh City Forensic Medical Center on October 25.

Local authorities of Lac Duong District have suspended the operations of local tourism sites for further investigation.

Hang said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had sent his condolences to the victims' families.

The Prime Minister has requested the ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee and relevant agencies to quickly investigate the case and deal with individuals and organizations committing the faults, the spokesperson said.

"The Prime Minister also asked all provinces and cities to tighten the safety rules for tourists, work on preventing losses caused by natural disasters, and find solutions to make up for the damages of the disasters," Hang added.

From its stance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed its subordinate agencies to work with both Vietnamese and South Korean authorities to deal with the issues related to the incident, and assist the victims’ families, she said.