3 children drown in Iowa River

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MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa, July 5 (UPI) -- Three children drowned Wednesday while swimming in the Iowa River near Marshalltown, Iowa, police said.

The children, two girls and a boy ranging in age from 7 to 9, disappeared Wednesday evening in a stretch of river north of town, The Des Moines Register reported. The three children are believed to be related.

Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper said the Iowa River is not a safe place to swim.

"The river looks relatively calm down on the location where this occurred, and in many areas down there, it's very shallow. But there are also areas that can drop off to 12 or 14 feet, and the undercurrent can be very dangerous in any river," he said.

A 10-year-old Marshalltown boy drowned in the Iowa River June 18.