Newsroom
Authorities continue their extensive search for 35-year-old Polish tourist Piotr Mentel, who has been missing since Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Despite overnight efforts, there has been no breakthrough in locating him, and the operation is ongoing with significant resources mobilized across sea, land, and air.
According to Paphos Deputy Police Chief Michalis Nikolaou, Mentel departed alone from Latchi harbor at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday aboard a rented inflatable boat for what was expected to be a brief solo tour of the nearby sea area. Later that afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., his boat was discovered drifting unmanned approximately 200 meters off the coast near Argaka, a village in the Paphos district.
Upon receiving the report, police promptly launched a search operation, with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) assuming control and activating the National Plan "NEARCHOS" to coordinate the multi-agency rescue effort.
The ongoing operation includes a National Guard helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle, a police helicopter, and vessels from the Coast and Naval Police. Teams of Civil Defense volunteers, Paphos Police Directorate officers, and foot patrols have been conducting searches along the coastline and inland areas, while aerial drones provide additional surveillance.
The JRCC confirmed that search efforts persisted through the night and will continue intensively today, as authorities remain committed to locating Mentel.
In an effort to assist in the search, police have released Mentel’s personal information and are appealing to the public for any leads. Anyone who may have seen him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department at 26806021, the nearest police station, or the Citizens’ Line at 1460.
