Three days of mourning have been declared in the municipality of Dupnitsa following the devastating tragedy near the village of Pastuh, where four members of the same family, two grandparents and their grandchildren, aged 8 and 11, lost their lives in the waters of the Struma River. After a search operation during the weekend that lasted more than 24 hours under extremely dangerous conditions, rescuers recovered the body of the second missing child, bringing the death toll to four.
According to investigators, the family had gathered for a picnic on the riverbank on Friday afternoon. Authorities believe the 8-year-old boy entered the river to swim but was caught by the current and began to drown. His 11-year-old sister rushed into the water to help him, followed by their grandparents. All four were swept away by the river. The youngest child, just six years old, did not enter the water. Despite the shock, the child managed to reach the nearby road, stop a passing vehicle, and seek help after first contacting his father.
The search involved police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, volunteers, and specialized rescue teams. Personnel repeatedly searched the river both from the banks and underwater, while a pilot from Dupnitsa surveyed the area from the air in a light aircraft. Volunteers from a rafting club in Kresna also joined the effort. Specialized equipment, including boats and sonar supplied by Sofia Municipality's Emergency Assistance and Prevention Directorate, was deployed to assist in the operation.
