Search operation underway for 60-year-old man missing in Paphos forest

A search operation is currently underway in the Paphos forest to locate a 60-year-old man who went missing on Thursday while mushroom hunting. The individual was part of a group of three people who lost their way around 14:00 near the Cedar Valley and the Roudia Valley. While authorities from the Police, Civil Defense, and Department of Forests managed to locate and rescue two members of the group, the 60-year-old man remains missing.

The search is being conducted in highly challenging terrain, described by Department of Forests spokesperson Glavkos Kyriakou as rugged with dense vegetation and steep areas known as the 'Black Cliffs.' Rescuers are utilizing specialized equipment, including a drone equipped with thermal imaging cameras, to scan the area throughout the night. Despite the intensive efforts of the search teams, who are intimately familiar with the difficult landscape, the man has not yet been found.

Authorities have committed to continuing the search operations throughout the night. If the individual is not located by dawn, the rescue mission is expected to be further reinforced with additional resources to ensure a comprehensive sweep of the designated search zone.