An eight-year-old boy who disappeared in Ingushetia after entering the Sunzha River has been found dead, ending an intensive search operation that lasted nearly eight days, authorities have confirmed.

The regional department of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) informed that the child’s body was recovered following days of large-scale search and rescue efforts, The Caspian Post reports.

According to officials, the operation involved 546 personnel and 17 pieces of equipment. Rescue workers, police officers and volunteers took part in the search, combing the area in an attempt to locate the missing boy.

Local media reports, including information published by the Telegram channel Baza, said the child’s body was discovered around 10 kilometres downstream from the location where he had gone missing.

The tragedy occurred on 15 June in the town of Karabulak. Reports indicate that the boy entered the river after noticing that his friend had fallen into the water. While the friend managed to survive by holding on to tree roots until local residents came to his aid, the eight-year-old was carried away by the powerful current.

The discovery of the boy’s body has brought the extensive search operation to a close.

Source: Telegram