Search efforts continue for 3rd day for missing persons swept away in drainage tunnel

NOW: Search efforts continue for 3rd day for missing persons swept away in drainage tunnel
NEXT:

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Search and recovery teams continued efforts to locate the bodies of two missing men who were swept away in a drainage tunnel earlier this week.

The two men were trying to save a ten-year-old boy was the first to be dragged by water and into the drainage tunnel.

The body of ten-year-old Mouhammad Arman Rashidulla was found Tuesday afternoon near Pulaski Park.

On Wednesday, June 15, Milwaukee Fire Department crews set up near 1st and Becher to continue searching for the missing men. One was Mouhammad's father and the other a neighbor who knew the family.

The three were members of Milwaukee's Rohingya community and were active members of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

Wednesday's efforts focused on deeper portions of the Kinnickinnic River. Crews were out on foot and boats surveying the area and using drone and sub-surface sonar technology.

On top of the elements of the river, search teams grappled with extreme heat throughout the day. Crews received support in the form of food, water and cooling shelter from the Salvation Army and the Milwaukee Fire Bell Club.

"For anyone that gets overheated we can give them a place to sit down and rest, this is a real warm situation," said Gary Fedder of the Milwaukee Fire Bell Club. "For anyone who needs to go ahead and take a break for a while, that's what we're providing. The vehicle is air conditioned so they can sit inside."

The Milwaukee Fire Bell Club is a volunteer, nonprofit organization and operates on donations. More information on the organization can be found HERE

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said the difficulty of the search is compounded by the effects of Monday's storms and is likely to be further complicated by severe weather expected Wednesday night.

Lipski added the crews are expected to be out again for search and recovery operations Thursday.

Share this article: