The search for the tourist couple missing since Saturday on the north coast of the island of Madeira was interrupted yesterday at 6:30 pm and will resume today, but in a conditional manner due to the forecast of bad weather, indicated the PSP.
“We will resume the searches, but the operation will be very limited by the weather conditions,” commissioner João Góis told the Lusa agency, adding that, therefore, no drones will be used, nor will the brigade kinesthetics.
Searches by sea will be suspended due to forecast bad weather.
According to the PSP, the search area was reduced to Fajã da Areia, in the parish of São Vicente, where the tourists were last seen, and the focus will remain there, in the low and high areas, particularly in some adjacent walking routes.
The tourists, a man and a woman of French nationality, aged 58 and 56, were on holiday in Madeira and were staying in a hotel in the parish of São Vicente.
The PSP revealed that the alert was given by the couple’s daughter, who that day chose to rest in the accommodation, while her parents decided to go for a walk nearby.
The tourists disappeared “without leaving any trace, not a backpack, not a single piece of clothing”, explained Commissioner João Góis.
The operation is being coordinated by the Regional Command of the Madeira Public Security Police and also involves the Judiciary Police (PJ), the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Madeira Operational Command, the Regional Civil Protection Service, SANAS and the Maritime Authority.
The PJ is investigating a possible criminal situation, although, so far, there are no suspicions.