A 10-year-old boy who vanished from a mountain village on Christmas afternoon has been found, ending a frantic search operation that mobilized the entire island during the holiday.
The child disappeared from Krittinia, a rugged community on the island’s west coast, triggering an immediate Silver Alert.
Police, the fire service, and the Rhodes municipality’s civil protection unit launched a large-scale rescue effort as night fell.
Volunteer teams combed the area on foot, locating the boy in darkness about two hours later. He was found unharmed roughly 700 meters (0.4 miles) from his home.
"All volunteer groups on the island responded instantly, even on Christmas Day, with a single message," Deputy Mayor Michalis Thomatos told state broadcaster ERT.
Mr. Thomatos, who heads the municipality’s civil protection unit, praised the rescuers' "self-sacrifice," noting that their rapid mobilization was decisive in preventing a tragedy in the cold, mountainous terrain.
The incident highlights the critical reliance on volunteer networks in Greece’s remote areas. Authorities thanked the residents for their swift cooperation and urged parents to remain vigilant during winter months when daylight is scarce.