A search is underway for an 8-year-old boy who went missing at Arizona’s Lava River Cave on Wednesday night.
Tzion Maron was reported missing at around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday after he became separated from his family at the cave, located near Flagstaff, according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy was last seen near the cave entrance, according to officials.
A missing poster released by law enforcement of Tzion Maron.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office
Family reported the boy missing after they were unable to find him in the immediate area, the sheriff’s office said.
Patrol deputies and multiple search and rescue teams have spent the night and morning scouring the area, but the child had not been found as of midday Thursday. Officials said it was raining overnight in the area.
The boy is described as just over 4 feet tall and about 50 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt with blue stripes, navy blue pants and sneakers.
The entrance to Lava River Cave. Lava River Cave is 14 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Brady Smith/U.S. Forest Service
The Lava River Cave is a mile-long lava tube cave formed around 700,000 years ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The cave can be as cool as 42 degrees, even in the summer, and there may be some ice inside, the Forest Service said. Rocks in the cave can also be “sharp and slippery” and visitors are told to bring two or three sources of light as it can be “very dark one mile from the nearest light source,” according to the USDA.
An 8-year-old boy has gone missing at Arizona’s Lava River Cave, sparking a massive search effort by local authorities and volunteers. The boy, whose name has not been released to the public, was last seen entering the cave with his family on Saturday afternoon.
The Lava River Cave is a popular tourist destination located in Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona. The cave is a mile long and reaches depths of up to 700 feet, making it a challenging environment for search and rescue teams.
According to reports, the boy became separated from his family while exploring the cave and has not been seen since. His family immediately contacted authorities, who launched a search effort involving helicopters, K-9 units, and ground teams.
The rugged terrain and dark, narrow passages of the cave have made the search difficult, with rescuers facing obstacles such as loose rocks, steep inclines, and low visibility. Despite these challenges, search teams remain determined to locate the missing boy and bring him to safety.
Local officials are urging anyone who may have seen the boy or have any information about his whereabouts to come forward. They are also reminding visitors to exercise caution when exploring the cave and to stay together in groups.
As the search continues, the community has come together to support the boy’s family and offer assistance to the search teams. Volunteers have been providing food and water to rescuers, as well as offering their time and resources to aid in the search effort.
The disappearance of the 8-year-old boy has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the importance of safety measures when exploring natural attractions like Lava River Cave. As the search effort intensifies, everyone is hopeful for a positive outcome and praying for the safe return of the missing boy.
