23-year-old who went missing on the Missouri River was not found Monday
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) - The active search efforts have concluded for local agencies looking for a woman who went missing while in the Missouri River.
The South Sioux City Fire Department (SSCFD) says a 23-year-old woman went missing at about 5:33 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, after wading about 10 feet into the river. It’s believed she was swept under by the current and did not resurface.
The SSCFD, along with the South Sioux City Police Department and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, responded and began preparations for a shore-based rescue.
Mutual aid was requested from Sioux City Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team, which arrived with watercraft equipped for sonar-based search operations. As the response developed, SSCFD crews conducted shoreline reconnaissance downstream and launched a drone to assist with aerial searches.
About one hour into the search, the situation transitioned from a rescue to a recovery mission. Around three hours into the search on Sunday, sonar detected a possible object approximately 100 yards from the point where the individual was last seen. The Sioux City Fire Rescue Dive Team conducted a targeted search in the area but was unable to locate the individual. The Dakota County and Woodbury County Offices of Emergency Management were also called in to support the multi-agency response.
Due to limited visibility and safety concerns, Sunday’s recovery operations were suspended at around 10 p.m.
On Monday, June 30, operations restarted with crews searching the Missouri River from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The SSCFD led a shore-based search along the Nebraska side of the river, from where she was last seen to the Highway 20 bridge. Meanwhile, Sioux City Fire Rescue and the Dakota City Fire Department conducted water-based searches along both the Nebraska and Iowa banks to the Dakota City Public Boat Ramp. None of the crews were able to find the 23-year-old, who has not been identified at this time.
“As of this evening, SSCFD formally concluded its active search efforts. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been informed and will continue to monitor the river during their regular patrols,” stated the SSCFD in a press release sent out Monday. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the missing individual during this profoundly difficult time. We also wish to thank all responding agencies for their professionalism, collaboration, and compassion throughout this operation.”
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