Search Underway for Four Missing Portuguese Nationals in Croatian Channel; Boat Found

An intensive search and rescue operation is underway for four young Portuguese nationals who disappeared in Croatia's Velebitski Channel amid a severe storm. The alarm was raised early on August 12 when a friend reported the four friends missing.

They had set out from a local camp in a small, 1.5-meter inflatable recreational boat, paddling north of Senj towards the town of Senj. Their trail went cold as dangerous weather conditions, including strong gusts of Bura wind and waves up to three meters high, swept the area.

The National Maritime Centre for Coordination of Search and Rescue in Rijeka immediately launched a coordinated operation. So far, the only discovery has been an abandoned inflatable object near the coast of Krk Island, which matches the description of the missing persons' boat.

Search efforts are being significantly challenged by the extreme weather. Some units have been moved to sheltered areas due to hurricane-force Bura winds reaching around 60 knots and waves exceeding two meters. Authorities have requested aerial support, including a "Pilatus PC-9" aircraft, to survey the wider Velebitski Channel area. Police are also involved in gathering information on the ground.