The causes of the tragedy involving the two 16-year-olds, who were pulled dead on Monday afternoon from the bed of the Kosynthos river in Xanthi, are expected to be revealed by a forensic examination.

The necropsy on the bodies of the two minors, who were taken to Xanthi Hospital after being found, is expected to be completed within the day.

One of the possibilities being examined by the authorities is that the two cousins went hiking on the well-known “Path of Life” and, under unclear circumstances, lost their lives in the river. It remains unknown whether their deaths were due to drowning or related to a fall into the water; however, according to initial reports, the two minors were spotted wearing swim trunks, perhaps indicating an intent to swim.

Critical answers to the exact cause of death of the two 16-year-olds are expected to be provided by the forensic examination, which is considered a key point in the effort to clarify the circumstances under which the tragedy unfolded. The autopsy findings are expected to provide answers as to whether the minors drowned, whether they were fatally injured by a fall or whether there was some other factor that led to their death.

It will be recalled that the two cousins were found unconscious by a walker who saw the bodies from a distance and alerted police. The minors had left their homes on Sunday afternoon for a hike and had been missing ever since.

According to their uncle, relatives and friends began searching for them that evening, not knowing where they had gone. “Unfortunately, they were found dead under a rock,” he said, noting that the family is unaware of the circumstances under which the tragedy occurred.

Authorities were informed of their disappearance on Monday morning and investigations were immediately launched. Shortly before 4 p.m., a walker spotted the bodies in the riverbed on the
Path of Life and alerted police.

The preliminary investigation has been undertaken by the Security Department of Xanthi, which is investigating the circumstances under which the two children died.