Rescue teams were searching for a 15-year-old boy and two girls, aged 14 and 8, who were last seen entering the river near the Crescent City Connection Bridge, the coast guard mentioned.
Officials did not say how and why the children entered the water, but CNN affiliate WDSU reported that it seems that one of the girls fell into the river and the other two children tried to save her.
Rescuers searched more than 90 miles along the Mississippi River for the children, the Coast Guard said in a press release on Sunday.
“The decision to suspend any search and rescue cases is never easy, but given the tremendous search efforts of our men and women of the Coast Guard, in conjunction with other response agencies, I have made the difficult decision to suspend our active search for the three children.” Capt. Kelly Denning, Commander Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, said in the press release. “Our prayers are with the families during this difficult time.”
Multiple rescue teams were involved in the search, including New Orleans Police and Fire Department, a Coast Guard Air Station helicopter crew and several boat crews, the Coast Guard said.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority suspended service on its Algiers-Canal Street ferry as the Coast Guard searched the area, according to WDSU.
