Search intensifies for missing DA leader
The search for the Democratic Alliance's North West deputy leader, Petro Nel whose light aircraft went missing in Nepal last Thursday, has been broadened.
Provincial Communications Manager for the DA, Nicolize van der Walt, says the search for Nel and the Russian pilot continued early this morning in Phokara.
She says initially, the air search and rescue team focused on the area where Nel’s cellphone last emitted a signal, but more areas are now being searched.
She says high resolution photographs are also being taken from the air to assist authorities.
"There's very mountainous and woody areas. It's very difficult. One of the South Africans that's part of the rescue team said this is the Himalayas, it's not the Drakensberg. So, even for skilled Himalayan mountaineers it's very, very difficult to move in the area but we still have hope and we still have Petro and her family in our thoughts," she said.
(Photo: Wikipedia)