Search for Spanish toddler in well enters fifth day | Inquirer News

Search for Spanish toddler in well enters fifth day

/ 08:07 PM January 17, 2019

TOTALÁN, Spain — The search for a toddler who fell down a well in southern Spain in a tragedy that has gripped the country entered its fifth day Thursday, with hopes dwindling he would be found alive.

Julen Rosello, who is two, fell down a very narrow shaft more than 100 meters (330 feet) deep on Sunday while playing as his parents had lunch nearby in the town of Totalan near Malaga, family members said.

Rescuers are unable to get to where they believe the child is as a layer of earth, sand and stones believed to have been dragged down by Julen when he fell have blocked the well.

Article continues after this advertisement

The toddler is believed to be underneath and the discovery of several strands of his hair by rescuers appears to confirm that theory.

FEATURED STORIES

As such, they are digging two tunnels, one parallel to the well and another at an angle aiming to reach Julen.

But the work is complicated by the state of the soil.

Article continues after this advertisement

Engineer Juan Lopez told reporters that the vertical tunnel was progressing “for the moment without too many problems.”

Article continues after this advertisement

But the horizontal one is causing “problems,” he added. Excavating that tunnel “within less than two days is really complicated,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

This race-against-time recalls several other high-profile cases in the 1980s.

Alfredo Rampi, an Italian boy, was found dead in a well near Rome in 1981 while Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl, was rescued alive from a well in Texas in October 1987 after more than two days inside.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Europe, latest news, News, Search, Spain, Toddler, well

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.