Authorities in all states and territories are on the lookout for 26-year-old Carolina Wilga, who has been travelling across Australia for the past two years and was most recently working at mines in regional parts of WA to fund her stays at hostels.
A staff member at one of the hostels in Perth where she has stayed, the Old Fire Station Hostel, said they spoke to Wilga’s mother as she tried to trace her daughter’s movements.
Carolina Wilga was seen pulling up to a general store in Beacon on June 29. (WA Police)Carolina Wilga stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay on June 28. (WA Police)
“She’s told a lot of people different things, I feel like as a traveller you’re not really sure where’s the next destination,” hostel worker Daniel Sammons told 9News.
“Her mum called the hostel, tracing some steps, and immediately when that happened we were all awfully concerned, because she has a good relationship with her mum.”
Wilga was last seen in Beacon, about 300 kilometres north-east of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, on June 29.
Authorities are set to further ramp up their search, with additional resources to be sent on Friday to Beacon, which is described as vast farming country.
Police discovered the distinctive black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van that she had been driving abandoned in the Karroun Hill area, in the north-east Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 1.10pm (3.10pm AEST) today.
It is believed to have suffered mechanical issues.
Police discovered the distinctive black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van that she had been driving abandoned in the Karroun Hill area (WA Police)
Officers did not find Wilga at the scene.
Earlier today, police shared footage of her pulling up in her van to a general store in Beacon about 12.10pm on June 20.
Wilga, dressed in blue jeans and a grey jumper, was seen peering into the store and walking around the property before leaving in the car about five minutes later.
She had stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay about 4.30pm the day before and then travelled to Dowerin before making her way to Beacon.
“We hope this will cause a member of the public to recognise Carolina as somebody they have seen or jog their memory and provide us with something that may be relevant in our search for her,” Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn said.
Venn said Wilga’s disappearance is “unexplained” and her family overseas are concerned.
“The family are understandably distraught, very worried, as any of us would be with a young family member on the other side of the world missing in such unusual circumstances,” she said.
“We’re doing everything we can.”
Venn said all states and territories had been notified and have alerts on for her vehicle, as friends have advised that she intended to travel to regional WA and the east coast.
“Therefore, our search is vast,” she said.
Carolina Wilga is believed to be driving the black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van. (WA Police)
Planes and helicopters have been scouring the Wheatbelt area, which Venn described as having “inhospitable, rocky terrain”.
Police have also been following up on leads across the state, including Esperance, Albany and Margaret River.
“She could be off grid, not have access to her phone, and she certainly had capacity in the vehicle she was travelling in to be self-sufficient for quite some time,” Venn said.
Venn stressed that, despite the homicide squad’s involvement, her disappearance remains a missing persons investigation, and there is no indication of any third-party involvement.
“But our minds are open to any line of inquiry or any information that people bring forward to us,” she said.
Carolina Wilga is described as having a slim build, with long wavy brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos. (WA Police)
Wilga is described as having a slim build, with long wavy brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos, including one which depicts symbols on her left forearm.
Anyone with information or footage in the Beacon area and the surrounding north-east Wheatbelt area between June 29 and July 4 is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
“Someone out there must have some vital information which can assist WA Police in bringing Carolina back to her family and friends,” Venn said.
