José and Leo. Two names that since Sunday have been repeated in aid requests and in the news arriving from Santa Cruz. The brothers, aged 10 and 12, are being sought after having been swept away by the current of the Gallegos River, in the area known as La Toma, in Palermo Aike.
Since then, their family has remained near the spot, accompanied by relatives, while rescue teams search the water and the banks. The wait continues this Wednesday 28 October, with an operation that brings together different forces and agencies and that has incorporated new elements to guide the searches.
El pedido de la mamá de José y Leo
This Wednesday, the boys’ mother spoke about the hours that the family is enduring. In statements to local media she asked for help to find her children and expressed the anguish of these days without answers.
The brothers’ grandfather, Emilio Virreira, also made a plea for solidarity: “I only ask you to help me rescue my grandchildren. Nothing more.”
According to the Santa Cruz media outlet, the family decided to stay camped in the area since the disappearance. Teachers from Club Talleres, where the boys play soccer, approached to accompany them. A presence that brings this story closer to the everyday life of José and Leo: their activities, their ties and the people who are waiting for them today.
Qué se sabe de lo que ocurrió en Palermo Aike
The incident happened on Sunday, October 25, in the afternoon. The brothers were in the water with two other teenagers when the current swept them away. The youths who accompanied them managed to get out, but lost sight of José and Leo.
The alert came in around 4:00 p.m. and launched the emergency response. Since then, personnel from the Santa Cruz Police, Firefighters, specialized rescue teams, Civil Protection, the Argentine Naval Prefecture and the National Gendarmerie, among other agencies, have taken part in the search.
The geography of the area complicates the tasks: there are swampy sectors, water arms and depth differences that require the intervention of personnel with experience in that environment.
Cómo sigue la búsqueda de los hermanos
In recent hours, the work of the specialized dogs and the information provided by one of the teenagers who had been with the boys allowed the search teams to delineate a sector to concentrate the efforts. According to La Opinión Austral, it is an area of approximately 40 by 40 meters. It is a datum that guides the operation; it does not imply that the brothers have been located.
Additionally, the provincial Chief of Staff, Pedro Luxen, announced the incorporation of six divers from El Calafate, El Chaltén and Gobernador Gregores to reinforce Wednesday’s tasks. The official explained that the teams are working on zones demarcated from the clues gathered.
Weather conditions also affect the deployment. The head of the Santa Cruz Police, Diego Agüero, reported that storms, heavy rain and lightning forced the interruption of some interventions in the water for safety. The diving work is organized in stages, according to the conditions of the site.
Acompañar a la familia durante la espera
From the outset of the emergency, professionals from the Regional Hospital were made available to provide psychological support to the family. The arrangement also contemplates supporting those taking part in the search, due to the emotional strain of the tasks.
As expressions of solidarity multiply, authorities asked that on-the-ground interventions remain under the coordination of the responsible teams. Agüero explained that the arrival of people on their own can hinder work in a complex area.
Behind every update are José and Leo, their family and those who know them. Informing with care is also a way to accompany them: respecting their privacy, avoiding rumors and maintaining attention on a search that, according to developments consulted Wednesday morning, continues.
