Bulgaria continues search for missing child after Struma river tragedy

Three bodies have been recovered from the Struma river near the village of Pastukh in Kyustendil – a 64‑year‑old grandmother, a 57‑year‑old grandfather and an 8‑year‑old girl. The family had been picnicking and fishing when the two grandparents attempted to rescue the children and drowned. A 6‑year‑old boy, a cousin of the missing children, was found unharmed but in shock after escaping the water.

Rescue teams from Sofia, including divers, fire‑safety units, police and volunteers, are searching for the second missing child, a boy aged about six. Drones and sonar equipment are being used to sweep the river’s deep, 8‑10‑metre‑wide current. The effort continues amid calls for the public to avoid unsafe water areas.

Authorities urge locals and visitors to exercise caution near the river, stressing that the cause of the incident remains under investigation.