The hunt for a missing teen who disappeared amid bitterly cold temperatures on a Scottish island has intensified amid further warnings of ice and snow.
Aleksandr Benga, 16, has not been seen since he went missing around 8.45am on Monday near the water wheel in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
Police say they are increasingly worried for the teen as bitterly cold temperatures saw the temperatures drop as low as -9C overnight.
The region was handed a 42-hour weather warning for snow and ice until Wednesday amid a desperate search for the missing 16-year-old.
Police Sergeant Liam Coleman, of Police Scotland, said: “We are growing increasingly worried for the welfare of Aleksandr and would ask if anyone knows where he is to contact us.”
Officers have also asked that residents check outbuildings nearby for any trace of Aleksander amid fears he may have been forced to take shelter from the icy weather.
The missing teen was wearing a beige jumper and black jeans. He may also have a red jacket.
Stornoway coastguard helicopter, a local coastguard team, and the RNLI's Stornoway lifeboat are also involved in the search.
A spokesperson for Stornoway Coastguard said: “We are now into the second day of searching for Alexander, and would appeal to anyone in the Stornoway town and Castle Grounds areas to please be vigilant and report anything to Police Scotland Highland and Islands via 101 or to HM Coastguard via 999.
“We would ask anyone able to safely do so to check their outbuildings in case he has sought refuge from the overnight weather conditions.
"There will be high levels of search activity today, and ask for your patience as we move personnel and vehicles around the area.”
The search comes as a blast of Arctic weather hit the UK overnight on Monday and into Tuesday.
The Met Office has put three yellow warnings for snow and ice in place in the North, the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland lasting into Wednesday.
A yellow warning for England was issued until 11am and the warning for Scotland will remain in place until 10am on Wednesday.
The cold conditions have already caused school closures, train cancellations and road delays in parts of the UK.
Anyone with any information about Aleksander’s disappearance is being asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 0803 of Monday, 18 November, 2024.
