Australian police were continuing their ground and air searches on Wednesday for a Belgian woman who was travelling in Tasmania and had not been seen since June 17.
She was visiting the southern island territory by car.
Local police issued a wanted notice on Tuesday expressing concern for the health of the woman, who had not had contact with her relatives since 12 June. Police now say the traveller was spotted in the market town of Waratah, about a 4.5-hour drive from Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, on 17 June.
In their new communication released on Wednesday, local police further stated that search teams, a drone and a helicopter – weather permitting – were scanning the area near a hiking trail, Philosopher Falls Track, in north-west Tasmania. The Honda vehicle belonging to the traveller, who was touring the Australian island by car, had been discovered unattended in a parking area at this location, around ten kilometres from Waratah. This road has been closed to the public for the conduct of the ground and air search.
This rainforest hike is considered accessible but temperatures are low at this time of the austral winter, with police saying visibility was low on Wednesday, with light snowfall.
Police are urging anyone who has been to the parking area since 12 June to contact the authorities to report whether the young woman’s car was there.
Belgium's Foreign Ministry is in contact with the family and the Belgian embassy in the Australian capital, Canberra, is also closely monitoring the situation, in conjunction with local authorities.
