The Captain of Porto and local Commander of the Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira, Commander João Afonso Martins, told Lusa that the searches took place throughout the night and continue today with the support of the airforce.

“We tried to send as many means as possible in the first few minutes, but so far it has not been possible to locate” the young woman, said commander João Afonso Martins.

The official explained that during the initial hours of the operation, which started around 8:30 pm on Saturday, 20 operators were involved, as well as a helicopter from the Air Force, a rescue boat from Spain and others means of the GNR and Civil Protection.

According to the report of the Captain of the Port of Vila Real de Santo António, who coordinates the searches, the wind was blowing from the north and the young woman entered “a kind of panic/fright and did not row”, which meant that “the wind picked it up and it started to move south”.

“Her father even tried and jumped into the water, but unfortunately he couldn't grab her, he didn't have the physical capacity to reach the board”, said captain João Afonso Martins.

From the moment they received information about the disappearance, "all available means were activated, which were many", assured the person in charge.

The first to arrive at the scene were two semi-rigid boats, one from the lifeguard station and the other from the Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António, which arrived at the scene in about 25 minutes.

“But unfortunately these vessels already arrived at night, so they no longer had visibility”, he said, adding that “there was also no moon, which only rose at 04:00”.