Missing Spanish tourists located in India

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 11:02

Written by Editor

Twenty of 50 Spanish tourists who were stranded by the floods in the Leh valley in India have been located safe and sound, while another 90 who were rescued over the weekend are already in New Delhi on their way home Two of those located - Juan Marmolejo, 34, and Encarnacion Ruiz, 35, both keen mountain climbers - are natives of Coin.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said they had made their own way on foot to Leh and were waiting with the other 18 to be evacuated. The spokesman said the Indian police had reported that one of the missing 30 – Lourdes Morro from Majorca – was dead, according to the trekking company which  had organised her visit. It said she had been camping in the same area as two French tourists who were swept away by an avalanche.

However, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said there was still hope that she could be found alive. He said every effort was being made to locate the other 29 missing tourists and that it was too early to “feel pessimistic”. Being close to the Himalayas, the area is very popular with mountain climbers and trekkers. Forty of the 90 Spaniards in New Delhi belong to a Basque mountaineering club.