A young girl who went missing in eastern Romania has been found safe after three days and nights of intensive searches involving hundreds of rescuers, authorities said, bringing an emotional end to a case that gripped a local community.
The child, identified as Andreea, was discovered tired but unharmed after an extensive operation that covered approximately 20 square kilometers of fields, ტყ, and abandoned buildings. Dozens of police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, soldiers and volunteers participated in the effort, supported by tracking dogs, drones equipped with thermal imaging, and a helicopter.
For her family, each passing hour had been a nightmare. For the girl, the three days unfolded as a precarious journey shaped by chance.
A Child’s Simple Account
After being found, Andreea calmly described her experience.
“I ran off, then I went to Orbeni. I was in the park, I met a younger girl and went to her home. She gave me a slice of watermelon,” she said.
While search teams combed the area, the child wandered between locations, guided more by circumstance than intention. A brief encounter with another child and a small act of kindness marked one of the few moments of comfort during her ordeal.
Shelter in an Abandoned House
After her initial wandering, Andreea took refuge in an abandoned house in the village, where she remained hidden as search teams closed in.
Rescuers eventually located her there.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” one of them asked.
“I’m not hurt,” she replied — a simple answer that brought immense relief after days of uncertainty.
Large-Scale Mobilization
Authorities described the operation as one of the most extensive search efforts in the area in recent years. Ground teams were assisted by aerial surveillance and advanced equipment.
“Thermal imaging cameras, drones and a helicopter from the General Aviation Inspectorate have been deployed,” a police spokesperson said during the search.
Local residents also joined the effort.
“We called on volunteers again today — as you can see, they are coming. We hope to resolve this today,” the mayor of Parava commune said while the search was ongoing.
Investigations and Questions
During the girl’s disappearance, police explored multiple leads, including questioning individuals close to the family. One man was initially considered a person of interest after suggesting he might have information, but was later cleared.
Neighbors expressed surprise at the incident.
“She didn’t seem like the kind of child to wander off,” one local resident said.
Throughout the ordeal, Andreea’s grandmother remained hopeful.
“I just want her to come home, to be found safe — however they find her, just to find her,” she said.
A Relieved Community
The outcome fulfilled that hope. Andreea was found alive and physically unharmed, but authorities say the case raises concerns about child safety and vulnerability.
The girl is expected to receive psychological counseling, while investigators continue to examine the circumstances that led her to leave home.
For the community, the memory that remains is one of collective effort — and the quiet moment when fear gave way to relief, as the child simply said: “I’m not hurt.”
