Belgian hiker disappears in China
The Foreign ministry is “closely monitoring” the disappearance of a 28-year-old Belgian man travelling in China. Hugo Huyghebaert has not been heard from since 26 March.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry is aware of this disappearance and is monitoring the situation closely, in conjunction with our consulate general in Guangzhou,” the ministry told Belga, adding that it was unable to provide further details “for reasons of privacy protection”.
Huyghebaert was visiting the town of Sanba in Shangri-La, southern China. According to a missing person’s notice issued on Friday at the request of the Namur public prosecutor’s office, he left the Haba Xiyinge guesthouse at around 11:00 on 26 March with the intention of hiking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a canyon through which the Yangtze river flows.
He is 1.80m tall and slim, with short, wavy brown hair and a beard. He was wearing grey hiking clothes and was carrying a rucksack with a green cover when he was last seen.
Belgian and Chinese investigators are asking anyone who may have seen or communicated with Huyghebaert, or who is planning to visit the area soon and could provide information, to contact police at avisderecherche@police.belgium.eu, using an online form or the freephone number 0800/30.300.
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