On Thursday night, the police received assistance from the Armed Forces in a search operation in Karasjok. The search operation has been going on since 04.36 on Thursday.
– We are looking in an area of twice three kilometers. The search area is a couple of miles southwest of Karasjok down to the crossing between the rivers Iešjohka and Karašjohka, says operations manager Leo Johansen in Finnmark police district to TV 2.
He says that the search continues until discoveries have been made. It is bright at night and nice weather in the area.
According to the police, the man in his 70s was riding an ATV when he set out on a trip, and it has been found in the area.
Searched by helicopter
Major Elisabeth Eikeland, press contact at the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters, says that it is personnel from the Finnmark Land Defense at the Garrison in Porsanger who are assisting in the search.
– We received a request for support from the police, and up to 50 people from Finnmark land defense participate, Eikeland says to TV 2.
She says that the terrain in which it is sought is demanding. Three dog teams from Troms and the Civil Defense are also assisting in the search operation.
A larger area was searched on Thursday with a Sea King helicopter, but bushes and scrub forest made it difficult to see from the air.
– A Sea King helicopter participated in the search. Photo: East Finnmark Civil Defense District
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Must be well known in the area
– We now receive assistance from the Armed Forces because we want to apply more thoroughly on the ground. There is a lot of steep terrain and we want to get a proper search, says the police operations manager.
– The man has been missing since he did not return after he went out to pick mullets. He is in his 70s and is not in good health, says Johansen.
The operations manager adds that the man should be well known in the area, and used to being in the mountains.
A good friend of the man is very worried about him, and confirms to the opposite iFinnmark that the missing person is very well known in the area.
Police will settle a new status Friday morning after searching through the night.
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