Five Vietnamese exchange students living in South Australia have disappeared in recent months, leaving police and their host families baffled.
The teenagers are all believed to be students at Hamilton Secondary College in Mitchell Park, Adelaide.
They disappeared at different times, with one not being heard from for about a month, although another student turned up this week.
In the latest case, Sonnie Nguyen, 17, was last seen at her host family’s home in South Plympton on Monday, and now her phone has been disconnected and her social media accounts deleted.
“I hope if she can listen to this, she can call me and say, ‘Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry,'” said Sonnie’s concerned host mother May Zervaas. 7News.
There are growing fears for the safety of several Vietnamese exchange students who have disappeared in South Australia in recent weeks. The photo shows the missing girl Sonnie Nguyen, 17 years old
‘I hope she’s doing well. I’m just worried because her English isn’t very good.
“It could be something stupid, or something really bad happened.”
The Zervaas family told police that Sonnie – who has three years left on her study visa – seemed happy and had no reason to run or hide.
A Vietnamese community leader in Adelaide said the missing students may have traveled interstate.
“I hope this is the case because 17-year-old children want to go somewhere together because of school holidays and don’t want to tell anyone,” said Lien Nguyen-Navas of the Vietnam Women’s Association.
“I hope that was the case.”
The South Australian acknowledged in a statement that the teens were reported missing in December and January.
“All lines of inquiry in the investigation indicate that some of these young people may have made the interstate journey and may still be there,” a police spokesperson said.
“There is currently nothing identified in any investigation that would indicate that these young people are in immediate danger.
“SA Police are working with interstate police colleagues to help locate these young people.”
May Zervaas (left) and her daughter Maria (right) worry about the safety of missing Sonnie Nguyen, who stayed with them while studying in Adelaide