On New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day, Rio de Janeiro’s fire and rescue service carried out 631 water rescues along the beaches of Copacabana and Leme, officials said, as unusual sea conditions left swimmers and beachgoers at risk. A 14-year-old boy from Campinas remains missing after being last seen in the water near Posto 2 in Copacabana.
Copacabana rescues: Search continues for missing 14-year-old
The Navy had issued a harsh sea-warning forecasting waves of up to 2.5 metres, and authorities attributed the surge in rescues to strong rips and return currents. The number of interventions marked a sharp rise compared with the 29 recorded during the previous New Year period.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fábio Contreiras, a spokesperson for the fire brigade, said conditions had not improved by the morning and that the power of the channels and returning currents remained dangerous. He urged people to exercise caution, remain close to lifeguard posts and obey the colour-coded flag system used to indicate swimming safety.
Search operations for the missing teenager have been continuous and multi‑faceted. Rescue teams are using aircraft, jetskis, diving squads, inflatable boats and drones to comb the area. Four children who became separated from their relatives were found and returned safely, officials said.
Elsewhere along the coast, an individual who was drowning in Ipanema was rescued and taken in serious condition to Hospital Miguel Couto. In Maricá, in the Lagos region, a 70-year-old man drowned amid the same hazardous sea conditions, prompting a civil-defence warning advising residents to avoid entering the water.
Officials warned that the risk extended beyond swimmers. Onlookers walking the promenade were put in danger as unusually large waves reached areas close to stages erected for New Year’s concerts. The Defence Civil of Rio de Janeiro issued alerts recommending that the public refrain from entering the sea while the strong currents persisted.
Emergency services said they were prepared for prolonged operations. Teams remained on duty through the morning to monitor conditions and assist those in distress. The continuing presence of fast-moving rips and the force of returning currents, authorities noted, meant the official marine warning may expire but hazardous conditions can persist.
Local officials reiterated simple safety measures: swim only in areas monitored by lifeguards, respect the flag warnings, avoid entering the water when flags indicate danger, and supervise children closely. They also encouraged beachgoers to seek immediate help from lifeguard posts if they see someone struggling in the sea.
As authorities press on with search and rescue efforts, families of the missing teenager and other affected people are being kept updated. The combination of quick-response teams and aerial support aims to reduce further casualties while investigators and rescue co‑ordinators monitor changing sea conditions closely.
Officials asked the public to continue to follow guidance from maritime and emergency agencies while conditions remain unstable along Rio’s popular coastline.
Key Takeaways:
- Rescue teams retrieved 631 people from Copacabana and Leme beaches during New Year celebrations amid rough seas.
- Marinha warned of waves up to 2.5 metres and strong currents, contributing to the high number of incidents.
- Searches continue for a missing 14-year-old last seen near Posto 2 in Copacabana; multiple assets are deployed.
- Authorities urge prudence, staying close to lifeguard posts and heeding flag warnings.
