Searches for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared 18 years ago while on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, are set to resume as authorities intensify efforts to locate her. The investigation is being led by both Portuguese and German officials, with current searches concentrated on abandoned structures and wells in the area.
Madeleine, then three years old, was reported missing on May 3, 2007, prompting a widespread investigation that captured the attention of Europe. The renewed search, taking place in the municipality of Lagos, will run until Friday and will cover a 21 sq km area between her last known location and where prime suspect Christian Brückner was staying at the time.
Initially handled by the Portuguese police, the case saw a shift in oversight to German authorities in 2020 when they named Brückner, a 48-year-old German citizen, as their key suspect. Brückner is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for a different crime but is projected for release in September, raising concerns among investigators about the possibility of him evading justice.
The search area is located approximately 3.5 miles from the Ocean Club, where the McCann family resided during their vacation. Law enforcement has cordoned off access to the search sites, with crews already clearing the area of brush and vegetation. On Tuesday, a team including firefighters and German police began extensive measures, which included draining a nearby well.
The previous search previously conducted two years ago focused on a reservoir north-east of the hotel, where Brückner had been linked through video and photographic evidence. German authorities continue to pursue accusations of murder against Brückner while British police, under Operation Grange, maintain the case as a missing person inquiry.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether this renewed search will yield significant breakthroughs. Madeleine's parents recently expressed their enduring resolve to find their daughter, declaring that their commitment to leave no potential evidence unexplored remains steadfast.
