The desperate search for a 10-year-old boy, swept away by the currents of the Russian River in Sonoma County, presses on into Friday morning after beginning Thursday afternoon, with local emergency services and authorities intensively combing the area. SFist reports that the swimmer disappeared near Steelhead Beach, north of Forestville, prompting an ongoing large-scale operation.

Details remain sketchy, but the Sonoma County Fire District revealed that initially, two teenagers were reported missing. One of them has since been located and transported to a hospital, as recorded by The Press Democrat. Though the severity of his condition is yet not disclosed, the missing boy has yet to be found despite the expanded efforts, which now include drones and helicopters in the search spanning east and west from the incident site; speculation holds hope that he may have found refuge on a sandbar or clung to a branch along the river's tumultuous path.

The resumption of the search, which was temporarily halted Thursday night due to darkness, was confirmed by KTVU, with Sonoma County battalion chief Shawn Johnson warning, "The water is moving fast. It is still at a high level. If you are not an experienced swimmer, you should not swim in the Russian River at this time," underscoring the perils that the river currently presents as emergency teams scour the riverbanks and waters.

As the community grapples with anxiety, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office leads the intensive operation using all available resources to locate the young boy. The Sheriff’s spokesperson, Rob Dillion, stated, "We hold out hope he’s on a sandbar or holding onto a branch or possibly came out of the river and is trying to walk back from somewhere." Meanwhile, residents have been urged to avoid the area around Steelhead Beach to facilitate the ongoing search.