Five pupils drowned in a water reservoir in Hejin city, in northern China's Shanxi province, Xinhua reported [1] on Monday morning.

The pupils were playing near the reservoir at Wang Bao village on Saturday and fell into the water by accident, the report said.

The government said the accident took place at about 6pm, and all five bodies were recovered by 8.20pm.

After the accident, officials of the larger Yuncheng area ordered teachers to alert students’ parents and tell them to take precautions during the holidays.