Spain is holding its breath as emergency services attempt to rescue a 2-year-old boy thought to have become trapped in a 110-metre-deep well shaft.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted on Sunday evening that people must keep hoping for a good outcome for the boy, known as Julen. Fire brigade, police and other emergency personnel were at the well in the countryside of the Totalan municipality, in the province of Malaga.
But there was no news on Monday, according to a tweet by the emergency services. It is not known if Julen is still alive.
The child apparently fell into the well shaft on Sunday afternoon while playing during an outing with his family. A police spokesman said that, while there was ‘still no physical evidence’ that the child is actually in the shaft, that is the presumption.
Julen's family said they could hear him crying inside the shaft.
Older children who had been playing with Julen had apparently removed the stones covering the entrance to the well shaft before his presumed fall, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported after speaking to Julen's family.
The search has been made difficult by the 25-centimetre diameter of the well shaft's entrance, Guardia Civil spokesman Manuel Molto told reporters.
A camera, lowered to a depth of 80 metres, seemed to show a bag of sweets that Julen had with him, the rescue team said.
The shaft has apparently been blocked by loose earth, making it impossible to lower the camera any further. The search has also been hindered by damp and cold, said Maria Gamez, representative of the Spanish Interior Ministry in Andalucia.
A parallel shaft may now be dug in order to reach the boy.
