Body found in Segura river after man goes missing in Murcia storms

Police are working to confirm the identity of the body recovered from the river in Murcia

A body discovered in the Segura river in Murcia may be that of a man who went missing eight days ago during the heavy storms in Murcia. Efforts are now focused on identifying the remains, which were retrieved using an inflatable boat.

The National Police confirmed on Sunday March 16 that their Operational Room of ‘091’ had received a tip-off from a caller reporting a body in the river near the bridge on Primero de Mayo Avenue. Officers dispatched to the scene were able to verify the sighting, and the body was subsequently recovered.

Police sources stated that, although the body’s identity has not yet been confirmed, the deceased is believed to be a man of African origin with a residence card. Investigators are now working to establish whether he is the same individual who was reported missing on March 8.

A large-scale search operation had been underway since that date, involving the National Police, Local Police, firefighters, emergency medical teams and Civil Protection units. The operation was launched after an emergency call at 8.30pm on March 8 reported a person in the Segura riverbed as it passed through Murcia.

Despite extensive efforts by the authorities, including the use of the GEAS Group and the Drones Group of the National Police, the search had not yielded results until the discovery of the body. Witness statements played a crucial role, with two additional people coming forward in the days following the disappearance to confirm that they had also seen a person in the water.

During the operation, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS) was asked to lower the water flow to facilitate the search, which was hampered by reeds, debris and sediment brought downstream by recent storms.

Investigators are now focusing on confirming the identity of the deceased and determining the cause of death.

Image: Bomberos Murcia