Tourist reported missing from remote Greek island amid crippling heatwave
An American tourist has been reported missing from a tiny Greek island at the height of an intense heatwave.
The unidentified man was last seen on Tuesday at a tavern in Mathraki, which lies off the north-west coast of popular holiday destination Corfu.
A friend he was staying with raised the alarm after he returned on Thursday to find the door of the house open and both the lights and air conditioning switched on.
However, the US national’s ID and travel documents were gone, according to investigators.
Mathraki is a remote island with a permanent population of less than 200 people, no police station or coast guard, reports ABC News.
Police officers from Corfu are assisting with the investigation, while search and rescue teams are scouring the water in the area.
The operation was paused due to rough seas today but is expected to continue on Saturday.
It comes just days after another American holidaymaker was reported missing from another Greek island.
Former Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputy Albert Calibet, 59, was last spotted on a hike on the island of Amorgos at around 11am on Tuesday but has not been seen since.
Temperatures have soared to as high as 43C in some parts of Greece this week.
An urgent travel warning was issued to tourists yesterday because of the extreme heat.
Earlier this week, passengers onboard a flight to Qatar from Greece were left trapped on a ‘sauna’ plane for over three hours after their aircraft was grounded on the tarmac.
Footage showed passengers sweating heavily and struggling to breathe as they were trapped inside without air conditioning due to a technical fault.
Videos show red-faced passengers peeling off their clothes drenched with sweat, while others were seen collapsed on their seats as people stood over them and fanned their faces.
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