Madeleine McCann Case: New Search Launched in Portuguese Reservoir

Portuguese authorities have initiated a fresh search operation in the Algarve region, focusing on a reservoir approximately 50 kilometres from where Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007.

The operation, coordinated by the Polícia Judiciária, involves specialist search teams, forensic experts, and cadaver dogs. The decision to search the location follows a review of case files and new witness information received by investigators.

Background

Madeleine McCann was three years old when she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007 while her parents were dining at a nearby restaurant. The case has been one of the most high-profile missing person investigations in history, spanning multiple countries and involving numerous lines of inquiry.

The Search Operation

A spokesperson for the Polícia Judiciária confirmed: This is a planned operational step based on investigative leads that have been thoroughly assessed by our team. We are conducting a methodical search of the area.

The reservoir search is expected to last several days, with teams using ground-penetrating radar and other specialist equipment. The area has been cordoned off and members of the public have been asked to avoid the location during the operation.

Family Response

A spokesperson for the McCann family said they had been informed of the search and were being kept updated by authorities. The family has repeatedly expressed gratitude for the continued efforts to find Madeleine and has urged anyone with information to come forward.

Previous Searches

This is not the first search conducted in connection with the case in recent years. In 2023, Portuguese and British police searched another reservoir in the Algarve as well as a remote area of scrubland, but those searches did not yield significant results.

The Metropolitan Police continue to assist Portuguese authorities, with Scotland Yard confirming that its officers remain in contact with the investigation team.