A 10-year-old boy was found dead in an irrigation canal in northern Greece on Tuesday, prompting an emergency response and an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of his death.

According to local reports, the child was discovered in the canal near a residential settlement. Residents told authorities they had seen the boy playing in the area shortly before the incident.

Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene and launched a recovery operation involving nine personnel and three vehicles. The child was retrieved from the water and transported to a local health center, where doctors confirmed his death.

Authorities have ordered a forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death. The autopsy is expected to be carried out in Thessaloniki.