Search teams are looking for a British reporter who went missing in poor weather while hiking alone in an isolated national park in Norway.
Alec Luhn, 38, is a U.S.-born journalist who has contributed to various renowned publications such as the
New York Times
and the Guardian.
He went missing on Monday following his inability to board a flight returning to the UK from Bergen, a town approximately 40 miles northwestern of Folgefonna National Park, where Luhn had been hiking.
Local news outlets stated that he was vacationing with his sibling in the Scandinavian country and chose to embark on a four-day trek starting on July 31 from an outdoor facility located at the northern part of the park in Ullensvang.
The national park spans 550 square kilometers and is characterized by its remote location, housing one of the nation’s largest glaciers.
A group of 30 volunteers engaged in search and rescue operations, accompanied by canines, unmanned aerial vehicles, and law enforcement personnel, was deployed to locate him.
The operation had previously been halted due to unfavorable weather conditions. Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager with the Vestland Police, stated: “The weather began to deteriorate significantly around midnight. It wasn’t prudent to keep searching in the mountains.”
The local authorities stated that the Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow, an expert in environmental journalism, is an accomplished hiker with proper gear.
He was last contacted on Thursday afternoon, along with his wife, Emmy-award winning journalist Veronika Silchenko, who informed the New York Times that he had sent her his schedule via message.
It was reported that she mentioned she hadn’t anticipated hearing from him for several days due to the sighting alert in the park. Silchenko also noted that it was common for her husband to take individual treks.
However, she started being concerned about him by Sunday, and contacted local officials when he didn’t return for his scheduled flight on Monday.
She stated, “I truly miss him. I’m unable to sleep or eat well. It’s extremely difficult not knowing anything.”
Folgefonna National Park attracts many hikers who travel from around the globe to tackle its demanding landscape and appreciate its stunning scenery.
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