Ami Yogev, 46, from Modi'in, has been missing on Mount Olympus in Greece for eight days. A United Hatzalah rescue delegation arrived in the area on Monday following a request from the Greek rescue unit. The family said they received a new indication regarding the last place he was seen.
Shlomi Yogev, Ami's brother, said the new information is helping to focus the search areas. David Krispel, a member of the search delegation, said the team is preparing to begin searches in the early morning hours using drones, thermal imaging systems, night scans and satellite communications. Israel's consul in Greece, Herzl Adri, said the Foreign Ministry is coordinating between the local teams and the Israeli teams.
Ami spoke with his mother on September 20 and sent her photographs from the mountain. Four hours later his mother sent a message asking if he had arrived. He saw the message but did not reply. According to the mother in a report on ynet, Ami told her he was sleeping on the mountain and had begun climbing to an altitude of 2,700 meters. Since then his phone has been unavailable.
Ami's rental car was found in the parking lot before the trail, alongside his suitcase, bag and computer, the family said. According to his mother, Ami left Israel without travel insurance, and therefore the private searches have been funded out of pocket. The family opened a crowdfunding campaign to finance the rescue teams.
The searches continue in coordination with the authorities in Greece. The Foreign Ministry said the consul and the Department for Israelis in Distress are in contact with local authorities and are working to locate him. Family members are requesting assistance in funding the continuation of the searches.
