Missing 76-year-old woman identified in Paphos forest

Authorities in Cyprus have confirmed that a body discovered on September 3, 2026, in the Kallinikos area of the Paphos State Forest belongs to 76-year-old Erato Athanasiou from Tsakistra. The identification was finalized on September 9, 2026, using DNA analysis, officially concluding the search efforts that spanned over a week.

Ms. Athanasiou was last seen leaving her home in Tsakistra on August 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. to go for a walk. Following her disappearance, a massive search operation involving state authorities, the forestry department, and numerous volunteer groups was launched. The body was eventually located approximately 25 kilometers away from the area where she was last spotted. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, marking the end of an 11-day search operation that concluded with this tragic discovery.