Damage from Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar
צילום: AFP
Missions to search Myanmar for missing Israelis
Insurance companies send search, rescue delegation after 26-year-old, 23-year-old Israelis who went missing following cyclone
Two Israeli families await any sign of life from their loved ones, who were traveling in Myanmar when Cyclone Nargis hit the area, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
The Harel Insurance Company decided to send out a search and rescue mission on Thursday, in an effort to find 26-year old Amit Efrati, while the Clal Insurance Company will send out a party to search for 23-year old Maayan Ka'alo.
US envoy to Myanmar, Shari Villarosa, has said that the death toll in the country could reach 100,000 people. She also said that 95% of the structures in the area have been completely destroyed, and that there is serious risk of an outbreak of infectious disease.
The Harel Insurance Company said that Amit Efrati left Israel one month ago and had recently been volunteering in a monastery two hours from Yangon. He was last seen wearing the monastery's apparel, red and white robes.
The Ka'alo family is also searching for signs of life from the missing son. His mother, Batya, told Ynet that Ka'alo left Israel for a 10-month trip in Southeast Asia in February. He was traveling alone. Before arriving in Myanmar, Ka'alo planned his trip according to the nature of the state, ruled by a military junta, and arranged to travel only in parks into which the junta allows entrance.
However, Ka'alo's brother said, Maayan did not plan specific destinations. "He planned to arrive there, see what was happening, and travel according to the conditions. He didn't expect the terrible storm that hit the country."
