The search for eight-year-old Khizir Derbichev in Ingushetia continues for three days. On June 15, the boy was swept away by the current of the Sunzha River near the village of Yandare in the Nazran District.
According to the republic's Ministry of Emergency Situations, 360 people and 33 pieces of equipment are involved in the rescue operation. Among the participants are numerous volunteers from both Ingushetia and neighboring regions—Chechnya and Dagestan.
"The number of volunteers is growing. Hundreds of men are diving into the cold water, exploring the bottom. The current is so strong that all rescuers are being insured to prevent them from being swept away. The Sunzha River poses a danger even for experienced adults; it is merciless to those caught in its current," the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.
According to eyewitnesses, Khizir was by the river with two friends. One of them, Adam, tripped and fell into the water. He managed to grab a branch, and Khizir rushed to his aid. The third boy, Muhammad, rushed for help. Along the way, he encountered a family. They managed to pull Adam out; he survived, but Khizir had disappeared.
Over the past few days, rescuers have thoroughly searched the Sunzha River from Karabulak to the border with Chechnya. The Investigative Committee of Ingushetia previously opened an investigation into the child's disappearance.
