SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian police yesterday expressed growing concern for the fate of a young Belgian hiker missing in remote northwest Tasmania, describing the frigid conditions in the region as “not survivable”.
Celine Cremer was last seen on June 17, in a small town in the island’s scenic northwest. Her white SUV was found parked at a trailhead in the Tarkine rainforest on Tuesday but is believed to have been there for at least nine days.
Police said she left the car “equipped for a light walk”.
Police and family have become increasingly worried, with a search involving ground crews, drones and helicopters hampered by bad weather. Nighttime temperatures touched freezing this week, with rain and snow cloaking the region.
“Weather conditions have been challenging over the past few days,” Inspector Anthea Maingay said yesterday.
