Another tragic drowning incident in Thailand claimed the lives of five children in the north-east of Thailand on March 21. The five children drowned in a waterway close to their homes when an after-school swim went terribly wrong. According to Thai-language media reports, three of the five children who drowned were siblings.

The children, who were aged from five to seven years old were found dead when their worried families began to search for them when they did not return home by nightfall.  When the of the three siblings were taken from the water, they were still joined together. The two girls aged 7 and 5, and their brother, 6, had drowned hugging each other.

The accident happened in the Chaiyaphom Province in north-eastern Thailand. It was believed the children had stopped for a swim on their way home at the one small pond near their village. It is assumed one of the children had a cramp and the other children went to help. None of the children had been taught survival swimming.

The grandmother, 56,  of the three siblings had been caring for the children while their parents worked in Bangkok to earn enough to support the family. The families knew to search the pond only because the children had left their clothes piled on the bank.

It was the second reported drowning incident in  recent days. An eight-year-old girl also drowned in Roi-ed Province. Her body was found in a local pond at around 9am.

In response to the drownings, the Ministry of Public Health released a statement noting that drowning frequently happened in natural ponds and rivers, as well as in urban settings. They warned children under the age of four can drown in as little as one or two inches of water.

The Government figures show 1500 Thai children drown annually, which is approximately four children every day. It is the most significant cause of death for children aged less than five years old, more than communicable and non-communicable disease and twice the rate of deaths from road traffic accidents.

March to May are the peak months for drowning in Thailand.