A thriller is unfolding in Amorgos over the last few hours, as an American tourist was reported missing on Tuesday (June 11).
According to reports, the man, a retired police officer in the USA, went hiking in a remote area of Amorgos. He was expected to arrive at a designated point before noon but has not been heard from since.
It is noted that at the time of his disappearance, the man had his mobile phone with him.
The Timeline of the Disappearance in Amorgos
Yesterday, Tuesday, at 16:56, a man called the Amorgos Police Station to report that at 7:05 his friend, who holds both American and French citizenship, is a retired police officer from the USA, and a permanent resident of Los Angeles, had started hiking alone from Aegiali, following a marked path to Katapola. The estimated time for the hike, according to an informational sign, is 4 hours and 5 minutes.
The last communication the 59-year-old had was with his sister on the morning of Tuesday (June 11) at 7:20 when he sent her a photo of the trail sign. Two hours later, around 9:30, he was seen in Asfondilitis, a midway point where he bought a drink from a shop and continued his hike. This was the last time he was seen in Amorgos.
However, by 15:20, it was evident that the missing man had not reached Katapola, causing his friend to worry. Despite multiple attempts to call him, there was no response.
The friend of the retired American police officer reported to the Amorgos Police Station that the missing tourist had two phones with him, one with a French number and one with an American number. The last known communication was a message sent to his sister at 7:20 that morning, with a photo of the trail sign.
All four police officers from the Amorgos Police Station immediately began searching for the man, aided by firefighters and a volunteer rescue team, but have yet to find any trace of him.
The Naxos Police Department has requested assistance from mobile phone companies to locate the missing man's phone signal.
Additionally, on the orders of the director of the Cyclades Police Department, a team of officers led by a senior official will travel from Naxos on Wednesday, June 12, to bolster and coordinate the search efforts.
The disappearance of the American tourist closely mirrors a recent thriller on Symi Island involving BBC presenter Michael Mosley, which ended tragically. Mosley's whereabouts were also lost on a hot day when he decided to hike alone.
Authorities are on high alert and are making significant efforts to ensure that the incident in Amorgos does not have a similar tragic outcome.