Boy, 9, drowns after entering drainpipe in Katherine

A nine-year-old boy has drowned after entering a drainpipe in the Northern Territory town of Katherine, NT Police say.

About 5:15pm yesterday, it was reported a boy had "entered a drainpipe at Katherine Low Level and not resurfaced", police said in a statement,

"Police attended the scene and deployed divers who located the child at 1:45am," they said.

NT Police Commander Neil Hayes said the child's family was at the scene and they are now being provided with support.

"This is an incredibly tragic incident, and we are providing welfare to the attending members," he said.

"Our thoughts are with the boy’s family."

He said a report on the death would be prepared for the coroner.

A long-running campaign across the NT has warned children of the dangers of playing in pipes and drains, particularly in the wet season.

In 2014, an eight-year-old boy in the Darwin satellite city of Palmerston drowned while playing in a drain, with a coronial inquest into the death recommending regular inspections of drains.