British explorer missing in Papua New Guinea
Search operation underway to locate Benedict Allen after he missed scheduled flight
A search has been mounted for British explorer Benedict Allen, who has gone missing on an expedition in Papua New Guinea.
The 57-year-old was travelling to locate the remote Yaifo tribe, who he first met 30 years ago, the BBC reports. He is understood to have been undertaking the expedition alone.
His sister says she reported him missing after he missed his planned flights home. She had expected to hear from the explorer by Monday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“For everybody else, it's very exciting – all the expeditions and all the things he does. But for his sister and his wife, it's more of a worry,” she told BBC Radio 4.
A helicopter pilot who dropped Allen off at the start of the expedition is understood to be tracing his route from his starting point to locate him.
Local police chiefs have also been alerted to the disappearance.
“Landslides, torrential downpours and sometimes an eruption of fighting between local tribes can all throw itineraries off-course” in Papua New Guinea, says the BBC's Frank Gardner. However, “foreign travellers are rarely targeted outside the main towns.
“Knowing Benedict,” he adds, “it is also quite possible that he has accepted an invitation to stay on longer for a tribal ceremony - it can also be considered an insult to refuse.”
Allen recently worked with The Week UK in association with National Geographic, bringing insight into the world of mass extinctions.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published