Two young women, an aunt and her niece, drowned in a stream in Tbong Khmum province as they were picking aquatic vegetables in Rokap Pram commune on Monday afternoon, authorities said yesterday.

Tbong Khmum District Deputy Governor Long Sarin identified the two victims as Keo Theara, 22, and her niece Chan Sreythy, 15.

Sarin said that according to accounts provided by the victims’ families, the women had gone to forage along the stream in order to sell the vegetables at the market for extra income, something they did regularly after finishing their farm work.

“While picking the water spinach, water mimosa and water lily, Sreythy, the niece, slipped into the stream, and the aunt rushed over in an attempt to catch her hand, but unfortunately she also fell into the stream,” Sarin said.

“Immediately, the cattle herders and fishermen tried to help, but before they could find them in the stream, they had already died.”

The Kingdom has recently seen a rash of similar fatalities. Just over a week ago, three people drowned in a single day in similar incidents across the country.