Two Portuguese tourists found off Croatia, two missing

Croatian rescuers said Wednesday they had found two of four Portuguese tourists who went missing in an inflatable boat during a storm in the Adriatic Sea, while the search continued for two men.

The four disappeared early in the morning in the Velebit Channel, between Croatia's Velebit mountain range and the islands of Krk, Rab and Pag. Rescuers said the group had set off from a local campsite in a small 1.5-metre inflatable boat intending to paddle along the coast before contact was lost.

A woman was found in the sea near the island of Krk after almost eight hours and was handed to emergency medical personnel, Senj Harbour captain Nenad Bugarin told local media. Bugarin said a man was found soon afterwards nearby after managing to get out of the sea and climb onto rocks.

Rescuers said the discovery of an abandoned object matching the description of the group's boat led them to the area near Krk. Two military aircraft were involved in the continuing search for the two missing men.

The maritime rescue agency said a report from an acquaintance was received at 4:41 a.m., prompting an immediate search and rescue operation amid strong winds and waves of up to three metres.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel wrote on X that Portugal's government was following the situation with great concern and in close coordination with Croatian authorities.