The search for a 71-year-old man who disappeared while windsurfing off the coast of Heraklion is continuing, with boats and aircraft searching the sea between Heraklion and the island of Dia.
The man has been missing since Monday afternoon, August 31. The Port Authority was alerted on Tuesday morning, and a major search operation was launched.
By Wednesday, the operation had continued through the night and resumed with renewed efforts during the day.
Two Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boats, a diving vessel, a recreational boat and other vessels have been involved in the search. An aircraft operated by the Coast Guard and an aerial asset from Frontex are also assisting.
Fishing, professional and tourist boats operating in the area between Heraklion and Dia have also been alerted and are helping search for any sign of the missing man.
Personal belongings believed to belong to him have been found on the beach. A windsurf board was also located in the sea and is believed to be his.
So far, however, the search has produced no sign of the missing man.
The discovery of the board has given authorities another piece of information as they try to determine what happened and where the sea may have carried the man.
The overnight search involved a Coast Guard patrol vessel and a tugboat, with crews continuing to comb the area after darkness fell.
The operation remains underway in the waters between Heraklion and Dia, with no confirmed sighting as the hours pass.
For now, the only thing certain is that the search continues.
The sea between Crete and Dia is a large and difficult area to cover, and every available vessel and aircraft is being used in the search for the missing windsurfer.
