Search launched for British men in Dolomites

A search and rescue operation is underway in the Dolomites in northern Italy for two British men who have gone missing while hiking.

Aziz Ziriot, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, of London, were last heard from on January 1 after sending messages home from the Trentino region.

He did not check in for his homebound flight on January 6.

Alpine Rescue, Guardia di Finanza Rescue, Carabinieri and local firefighters are all involved in the search, but due to recent snowfall the teams say they are having difficulty accessing the area.

Officials say it is unusual for hikers to go missing this time of year. Friends of both men are flying to the area from London this evening

Appeals for information about both men have been posted on social media, including Crystal Palace Football ClubWhere Mr. Ziriot works.

Mustafa Suleiman, chief executive of Microsoft’s AI division, Posted On LinkedIn: “I urgently need your help! Two of my friends have gone missing while hiking in the Dolomites.

“We know they were near Cascina Dosone Tione di Trento, near Rivello del Garda, on Lake Garda.”