HUNT FOR NORA
Hundreds join search for missing Brit girl Nora Quoirin scouring the snake-infested Malaysia jungle for the ‘vulnerable’ 15-year-old
HUNDREDS of rescuers have joined the jungle search for missing Brit Nora Quoirin who vanished in Malaysia.
Cops used a helicopter and sniffer dogs in an expanded search for the 15-year-old London girl who disappeared from her bedroom at a nature resort over the weekend.
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Nora’s family says they discovered her missing from her bedroom at the Dusun eco-resort in southern Negeri Sembilan state on Sunday morning with the window left open.
The family are convinced it is a criminal matter but local police initially said there were no signs of foul play.
However they later revised their opinion saying that Nora had been “taken” but not “abducted”.
District police chief Mohamad Nor Marzukee Besar said rescuers scoured areas surrounding the resort until 3 a.m. Tuesday but found no clues.
He said the operation involving over 160 people resumed later Tuesday morning, with a helicopter, sniffer dogs and villagers aiding in an expanded comb through the dense jungle.
"We also searched at night but so far, there are no new leads. The operation is ongoing," he told The Associated Press by phone, adding that further updates will be given at a news conference later.
The parents of Nora Quoirin, who has learning and developmental disabilities, are an Irish-French couple who've lived in London for about 20 years, according to the Lucie Blackman Trust, a British charity support people during a crisis overseas.
A member of staff at the hotel told The Sun Online there is 'no way of knowing' if the window was opened from the outside or the inside. The area is not covered by CCTV.
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'TRIP OF A LIFETIME'
The teen had only arrived a day earlier with her parents and two siblings at the resort - in a nature reserve near Seremban, 39 miles south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
It was the start of a two-week "trip of a lifetime" with her mum, dad and two siblings, a family friend said.
Nora's mum Meabh is originally from Belfast while her father is French - with her parents having lived in London for around 20 years.
Speaking from Belfast, the girl's aunt Aisling Agnew said: "Nora is a child with special needs and has learning and developmental disabilities which make her especially vulnerable and we fear for her safety.
This is a very vulnerable young girl missing in a remote location
Matthew Searle, Lucie Blackman Trust
"Nora would not know how to get help and would never leave her family voluntarily. We now consider this a criminal matter."
LBT said this morning that a heavy police presence has been deployed - including sniffer dogs - as part of the desperate search.
Mr Searle added: "This is a very vulnerable young girl missing in a remote location.
"It is possible she has been seen or taken in by somebody and is unable to communicate, so we urge everyone who can to share our appeal poster and social media appeals.
"Sadly it is also possible that Nóra has been the victim of serious crime – we urge anyone with any information to come forward."
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REMOTE RESERVE
The Dusun is a 12-acre orchard resort next to the Berembun Forest Reserve - 4,000 acres of protected virgin forest rising to 3,900 feet.
The forest has wild boar, deer, giant millipedes, monkeys and leeches, according to the resort's website.
There are two small villages near the resort where the majority of residents work in farming of the local land.
Nora is understood to have been travelling on an Irish passport.
A spokesman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are aware of the case and providing consular assistance."
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The family has set up an email address where information can be passed on at [email protected].
The LBT has also provided a hotline and email address for information.
People can remain anonymous and can call +448000988485 or email [email protected].
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