A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken the community of Rio Novo, in the municipality of Ituporanga, located in the Alto Vale do Itajaí region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. On Monday, June 30, a 1-year-and-7-month-old girl was found lifeless in a pond after being reported missing for several hours.
The child was last seen around 9:00 a.m. when family members, busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, noticed she had disappeared. According to the father, the toddler quietly slipped out the front door unnoticed and wandered toward a nearby area where the tragic event ultimately unfolded.
Following the distressing report, the Military Police immediately launched a search operation in the surrounding rural area, characterized by thick vegetation and rugged terrain. The Volunteer Fire Department quickly mobilized a team of 12 personnel, aided by specially trained search dogs and two boats, to comb the area thoroughly.
After nearly three hours of intensive searching, at approximately 1:10 p.m., rescuers discovered the girl’s body in a water reservoir roughly 100 meters from the family home.
While the exact circumstances of the drowning remain unclear, the father shared a preliminary account, suggesting the toddler may have been heading to her aunt’s house and accidentally fell into the pond while playing along its edge.
“She left without anyone seeing. She was going to my sister’s house and must have fallen into the pond while playing near the water’s edge,” the father said, visibly distraught.
The Civil Police have taken over the investigation and are meticulously gathering testimonies and examining the scene. No conclusions have been drawn yet, as all possibilities remain open.
The tragic loss has deeply affected the residents of Rio Novo, who are mourning the death of the little girl with heavy hearts.
In response, local authorities are urging families to implement stricter safety precautions around bodies of water, particularly in homes with young children, to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
