Kozloduy Boy Drowns in Danube After Municipal Swimming Ban

An 11‑year‑old boy, identified as Ivo Ivanov, drowned on Saturday evening while swimming in an unguarded section of the Danube river near the town of Kozloduy, Bulgaria. Two friends had entered the water to cool off; one began to drown and the other fled to seek help, but rescue attempts were unsuccessful and the child's body was later recovered.

The tragedy occurred a day after the Kozloduy municipal council reiterated a ban on swimming, bathing and recreational boating in unsafe water bodies, including the Danube, under Order No 409/25.06.2025. Local officials renewed calls for parents to keep children away from prohibited sites, stressing that compliance with safety measures is the only way to prevent further incidents.