Four children aged between 8 and 12 died in separate drowning incidents in three different provinces on Wednesday, increasing the number of drowning deaths to 16 so far this month.

In one case in Kampong Chhnang province, two boys – identified as Chea Phanit, 9, and Yon Narong, 10 – were cycling in Rolea Ba’ier district’s Chrey Bakk commune with another 9-year-old boy when their bikes veered off a bridge, causing them to fall into the rapidly flowing water and drown.

“The one who survived, grabbed the bamboo [near] the stream, and the villagers helped him in time,” district police chief Toem Chanthy said.

In a separate case in Kampong Thom province, 8-year-old Chorn Kemhor, from Baray district’s Triel commune, drowned after she went to a bridge unattended and slipped, district police chief Suong Then said yesterday.

Meanwhile, in Siem Reap province, a 12-year-old boy identified as Kong Pheakdey from Puok commune, drowned the same way after he reportedly went to Tahing Bridge and “disappeared in the water”, according to Puok district police chief Tep Pumsen.