A coordinated rescue effort has been active since 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with national and local police in Badajoz, Red Cross volunteers, and firefighters sweeping the Guadiana River. The focus remains the stretch known as Las Crispitas, where a 13-year-old boy vanished while playing and swimming with two friends. While the exact circumstances of the incident are not yet clear, reports indicate the youth disappeared beneath the water near the stilling basin at the river’s edge within the urban area.
A fire department boat and a Red Cross vessel are patrolling the area around the weir, as divers descend into the river’s depths. Search teams are also combing the riverbanks, methodically covering the shoreline for any trace of the boy.
The two companions who were with him alerted authorities after losing sight of their third friend. Of the two who entered the water, one did so while the other remained on the surface, as the trio attempted to reach the weir where currents generate strong whirlpools and suction. These conditions complicate rescue operations and require careful, coordinated response from divers and support crews.
The missing boy’s family arrived at the emergency zone where responders have established the operation. Two ambulances from the regional emergency service are on site to monitor the situation and provide assistance if needed.
Officials plan to resume the search on Thursday beginning at 8:00 a.m. Local authorities have urged residents to recognize the inherent dangers of the river, particularly near the entry point where swift currents and whirlpools can form unexpectedly.
Exactly one year ago, the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation (CHG) cautioned on social media about people swimming at the Pesquera weir, highlighting heat as a major driver of risky behavior near river structures and urging greater caution around such areas. The warning underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and safety around river features that can pose sudden hazards to swimmers and bystanders alike. (Attribution: CHG)