Search Resumes for 23-Year-Old Missing in Rio Preto River, Minas Gerais

Firefighters resumed their search on Monday morning, August 3rd, for a 23-year-old man who went missing in the Rio Preto river in Natalândia, Minas Gerais. The search efforts were initially launched around 4 PM on Sunday, August 2nd, following reports of a possible drowning. The victim has been identified as Bruno de Barros Santos. Aquatic search operations commenced around 6 PM on Sunday but were halted at approximately 7:30 PM due to low visibility in the water. The section of the river where the incident occurred ranges in depth from three to six meters, with some areas exceeding six meters. According to witnesses at the scene, Santos was with his sister and a friend when he entered the river. He reportedly did not know how to swim and was walking in a shallow area when he stepped into a deeper section and submerged. Firefighters are advising the public to avoid entering rivers, lakes, and reservoirs without understanding the local conditions, such as depth and currents, especially for those who cannot swim. The search was suspended overnight due to the challenging underwater visibility.