In Omaha, Nebraska, authorities were diligently searching on Wednesday for the remains of two 18-year-old young women and an 11-year-old girl who had disappeared into the freezing waters of the Missouri River. Firefighters and police, along with a fire and rescue team, coordinated efforts in the daunting task at N.P. Dodge Memorial Park, located in the northeastern part of the city.
The comprehensive search operation involved several boats equipped with sonar technology, as well as a police helicopter and drones. These resources were deployed to locate the missing teens and child who ended up in the river’s waters on the evening of the previous day while they were fishing from the river’s shore. Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Coby Werner provided insights into the ongoing search efforts.
A 13-year-old girl, who had been part of the group, managed to reach the riverbank independently on Tuesday evening. She was subsequently treated for hypothermia at a nearby hospital, given the cold temperatures that hovered around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 7.2 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday. Officials have yet to release the identities of the missing individuals, but they have confirmed that the four individuals are related, although the exact nature of their relationship remains unspecified.
Chief Werner noted the severe risks posed by the 45-degree water temperature, saying, “Typically with 45-degree water, you know, maybe in about 10 to 15 minutes, you start to become hypothermic,” underscoring the dangerous conditions the individuals faced.
The distressing incident came to public attention when a visitor at the park near the riverbank heard the cries of the 13-year-old girl around 6 p.m. Tuesday. After alerting authorities, a 911 call was made, prompting a robust multi-agency response. Rescue teams continued their efforts until nightfall, approximately three hours later, at which point the search had to be suspended due to darkness. The operation recommenced at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
“As of this morning, we consider this a recovery mode,” Chief Werner stated. “That doesn’t mean we’re not doing everything we can. It just means we start to slow down just a little bit and conduct a more methodical search.” The somber shift in the operation hinted at the gravity of the situation as teams continued to work tirelessly in their search efforts.