80 now searching

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 1

80 now searching

PA Rotorua More searchers were flown into the rugged Urewera Ranges yesterday in the bid to find two missing sisters before they succumb to exposure in freezing temperatures. The search was into its fifth day and more than 80 men had been draftee’ into the hunt for the women.

More searchers yesterday went into the region near Ruatahuna by helicopter. Temp°ratures have befn below freezing at nights and there is snow in the area.

Miss Salina Apirana, aged 20, and Miss Nqti Apirana, aged 19, have

been missing since Wednesday. They left a bach to check their brother’s opossum traps in Urewera National Park. They have not been seen since. They are believed to be wearing jeans, singlets and T-shirts, and one might be barefoot. They are thought to have neiher food nor matches. Inspector M. K. Huggard, of Rotorua, went to the area yesterday to evaluate the search. The -officer in charge of the search. Sergeant R. L. Sutton, of Rotorua, said yesterday afternoon that a sub-base had been set up at Lake Waikaremoana for extra search parties to, work from. f A helicopter is being

used to ferry men to different search areas near the opossum line. Sergant Sutton said the weather was still very cold and some searchers were feeling the effects. “We are very concerned that the lightly dad women wilt be suffering the effects of exposure, especially if they spend their sixth night, in the bush,” he said. Members of the amateur radio emergency corps have established communication bases between search parties, the search headquarters, and Rotorua* "

Sergeant Sutton said the search would continue today.