Major search is underway for a missing Prestatyn woman

A major search is currently in progress for a woman from Prestatyn who has gone missing in the Conwy Valley area.

North Wales Police, the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the RAF Search and Rescue Team are all involved in an operation to locate 56-year-old Ausra Plungiene, who was last seen yesterday morning (Tuesday, April 11th). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ausra, who lives in the Prestatyn area, is believed to have left for her walk at around 10.30am with her dog, but she failed to return home. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The alarm was raised shortly before 10pm last night when North Wales Police coordinated a search across a vast area of Eryri. Her car was located by officers in the Rowen area during the early hours. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She may have been wearing a dark pink/purple padded jacket, black leggings and blue shoes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Superintendent Owain Llewellyn of North Wales Police said all efforts were being deployed to search for Ausra. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “We are extremely concerned for Ausra’s safety and I am appealing to anyone who may have seen her or has any information on her whereabouts to get in touch. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“A number of resources were deployed throughout the night to try and find her. Her vehicle was located in a remote car park in Rowen shortly after midnight so we are working to establish which route she may have taken. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Searches are continuing across the area this morning – involving a number of resources including air support, and due to the current inclement weather conditions, I would ask members of the public not to conduct their own searches, and allow our Mountain Rescue colleagues to continue their enquiries”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Anybody who may have seen Ausra, or have any information is urged to contact North Wales Police via 101 or via the website, quoting reference number A052734. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​