Missing Girl: Frantic Search in Villa Mella

Search Continues for Missing Girl in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic A five-year-old girl has been missing since Thursday after being swept away by a swollen stream in the Primaveral sector of Villa Mella, Santo Domingo Norte. Authorities have been searching for the girl for over 27 hours, using a variety of resources. "We are doing everything humanly possible to recover the girl," said Mayor Betty Gerónimo in an interview. Rescue workers have employed drones, canine units, and heavy machinery to clear debris from the stream and facilitate the search. The heavy machinery is needed to remove the large amount of solid waste that has accumulated in the streambed, which is hindering access to the stream bed. The search is focused on the area where the stream flows into the Yagüasa River. The community is rallying together to support the family and assist in the search efforts. The hope remains that the girl will be found safe.