BRASILIA, June 08(ABC): The families of a British journalist and Brazilian indigenous expert who went missing deep in the Amazon after receiving threats made distraught pleas Tuesday to authorities in Brazil to accelerate the search operation.
Veteran freelance journalist Dom Phillips, 57, and respected indigenous specialist Bruno Pereira, 41, went missing early Sunday while traveling by boat in the remote Javari Valley near Brazil s border with Peru, where Phillips was researching a book.
As the 48-hour mark passed, speculation swirled on where the men were and whether there could have been an accident or foul play.
“I want to make an appeal to the government to intensify the search,” Phillips s Brazilian wife, Alessandra Sampaio, said in an emotional video message.
“We still have some small hope of finding them. Even if I don t find the love of my life alive, please find them,” she said, choking back tears.