A girl, just 3 years old, identified as Arisbeth Suárez Abarca, died last Saturday afternoon after being swept away by a strong river current while trying to cross it with her older sister.
The tragic incident occurred in the community of Quisaurita, located in the municipality of Camoapa, in the department of Boaco, Nicaragua.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Saturday, June 29, in the afternoon, as the sisters were trying to cross the swollen riverbed in Quisaurita, a rural area with difficult access in the eastern part of the country.
The victims of the incident were sisters Arisbeth Suárez Abarca, 3, and Escarleth Natalia Suárez Abarca, 15. Both were riding a horse when a sudden flood, known locally as “revenida,” caught them in the middle of the crossing.
According to witnesses and local media, the girls were trying to cross the tributary on horseback when the current swept them away without giving them time to react.
Teenager Escarleth Natalia managed to escape alive thanks to her efforts to swim to shore, while younger Arisbeth was swept away by the force of the water. At the time of the initial reports, authorities and residents still did not know the whereabouts of the girl’s body.
The causes of the accident are related to the increased river flow caused by recent rains in the region, a common phenomenon at this time of year.
Despite the risks, it is common for residents of these rural communities to cross rivers on horseback as part of their daily routine, as in many cases they lack road infrastructure or safe bridges.
Community brigades, along with family members and local authorities, have launched a search effort to locate the body of the missing minor.
It has not yet been confirmed whether he has been located. Weather conditions and terrain are making rescue efforts difficult.
This tragic case once again highlights the dangers many rural communities face when faced with natural disasters and the lack of adequate infrastructure to ensure the safety of their residents.
