MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa - An Iowa police chief says authorities have recovered the bodies of three young children who apparently drowned in a river during a Fourth of July outing with family and friends.

Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper says the two girls, one 7 and the other 9, and one 7-year-old boy found Wednesday night in the Iowa River were family members.

The children became separated from others while swimming in the river in Marshalltown, about 50 miles northeast of Des Moines. Authorities searched for more than three hours before finding them.

Tupper says drought has left the river shallow. There are places where it's only ankle deep, but other pockets of 12-plus feet of water.

Last month, another child drowned in the same river about two miles away.

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