Cousins Drown In Willapa River

The Willapa River has claimed the lives of two girls in Pacific County, authorities said.

The girls were identified as 11-year-old Prakayvanh Syhananphalath of Long Beach and her cousin, Malida Sihananpharath, 10, of Raymond.

The girls were swimming in the south fork of the Willapa River on Sunday when they were swept away in the current.

Malida was found by a bystander, and rescue workers at the scene tried to resuscitate her, said Capt. Joe Basil of the Long Beach Fire Department. The girl was pronounced dead at Willapa Harbor Hospital in Raymond.

A Grays Harbor County diver found the body of Prakayvanh later that night.