A missing teenager triggers a regional rescue operation along the Ebro in La Rioja
In the early hours today, a large team of responders from local authorities and emergency services began a coordinated search for a 13-year-old who vanished while swimming with friends at a stretch of the Ebro River near Rincón de Soto in La Rioja. The incident was confirmed by the father of the missing boy to Salvador Díez, who serves as the director general of Emergency Situations for the regional government. The family has been cooperating with investigators as the search unfolds along the riverbank and through adjacent shallow areas.
Officials stated that the teenager disappeared yesterday afternoon after entering the river with his companions at a site commonly frequented by local youths for bathing, a place known locally as sardine beach. The exact circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain unclear, and authorities have shifted resources toward locating him as a top priority.
The director of Emergency Situations explained that at midnight a report was received from SOS Rioja indicating a boy was missing in the river. This prompted an immediate mobilization of the region’s resources to begin a thorough search and rescue operation aimed at locating the teenager as quickly as possible.
Fire crews have been conducting a significant search through the surrounding area since early the prior morning, contending with limited visibility due to nighttime conditions. As daylight broke, responders employed sonar and an underwater camera to scan the riverbed and verify that no signs of the boy were missed in the deeper stretches.
Díez commented that the area where the disappearance occurred is a common recreation spot for young people departing from Rincón de Soto, located roughly 60 kilometers from Logroño. He noted that while the river bend is not considered highly dangerous, currents can produce eddies and the water depth can reach between five and six meters in the central channel, factors that complicate the search but do not diminish the commitment of the responders to recover the missing teenager.
Miguel Ángel Sáenz, spokesperson for the Civil Guard in La Rioja, reinforced that locating the child remains the foremost priority. He emphasized that the ongoing search will be followed by a comprehensive investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident, with all available resources kept ready for any new leads that may emerge as the operation progresses.
María Marrodán, the government delegate for La Rioja, spoke about prior experiences with river outings in the Ebro and noted that the disappearance will be examined in the context of surrounding conditions and environmental factors. The aim is to determine what happened by reviewing the vicinity for clues and assessing activities that may have unfolded in the area while the search continues.
As part of the extensive search effort, firefighters, Civil Protection technicians, the Riojan Government’s Directorate of Biodiversity staff, and a Civil Guard helicopter are working in unison. Mountain rescue teams, civilian dog handlers, and a dedicated Special Group with underwater capabilities are also involved to widen the search radius. The collaboration extends to specialized units such as the Underwater Activities group, all contributing to the multi-disciplinary approach required in challenging riverine terrains. These coordinated actions reflect the region’s commitment to family safety and rapid response in emergent aquatic incidents, and they are being documented by news agencies that provide on-site reporting to inform the public while ensuring accuracy and accountability. (EFE)