Additional Coverage:
Four of the five victims who tragically drowned in an Ohio river have been identified as two married couples from Honduras, Honduran officials confirmed.
The incident occurred Sunday evening along the Scioto River in Powell, north of Columbus, when five adults-two women and three men-entered the water. Authorities believe one adult began struggling, prompting others to enter and attempt a rescue, only for all five to succumb to the river’s current. Two young children, left on shore during the incident, were unharmed but have now been placed in the care of family services.
The Honduran president’s office and foreign ministry identified four of the deceased as married couples: Miguel Ángel Guerra and Carmen Idalia Lara Ferrera, both 33, and José Mario Pineda, 33, with Marina Suyapa Regalado Miranda, 29. The identity of the fifth victim has not yet been released. The Honduran foreign ministry is working closely with U.S. authorities to repatriate the bodies and provide support to the surviving children.
Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer described the event as a “tragedy.” According to the sheriff, the group had been fishing when one adult entered the river to swim and encountered difficulties.
Others who attempted to help also got into trouble in the water. First responders were able to recover two women from the river Sunday night; they were transported to hospitals where they were pronounced dead.
The bodies of three men were found the following day.
911 call recordings reveal the distress of witnesses, including reports of a young child running along a nearby highway, crying out for help. Another caller reported seeing a floating body along the riverbank.
The community continues to mourn this devastating loss, while authorities and family services work to support the children left behind.