Due to the elevated fire danger rating in the region, the search for Samantha Murphy, who has been missing in Ballarat for over a month, has been postponed.
The search was organized by the Ground Crew, but those involved in the operation had to make the difficult decision to put off the search.
Due to the catastrophic fire warnings and the ongoing bushfires, the search for Ms. Murphy was postponed.
The organizer of the Facebook page dedicated to the search explained that they decided to put off the operation due to the strain on the community and the volunteers of the CFA and SES.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, the organizers of the search decided to put off the operation.
Meanwhile, a bushfire in Bayindeen, which is threatening to burn near Ballarat, has prompted authorities to issue an evacuation order for the residents of the region. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius.
Hundreds of volunteers joined the search for missing 51-year-old Samantha Murphy on Saturday. They were equipped with search dogs and metal detectors. The large group was organized at the Eureka Stockade memorial park in Ballarat. It has been over a month since she was last seen.
Murphy, who was a mother of three, was last seen at the Woowookarung Recreation Park in East Ballarat at around 7 am on May 3. Since she didn’t return home after going for a run, the police believe foul play is involved in her disappearance.
The police also believe that there could be a number of people who are responsible for Murphy’s disappearance. During the course of the investigation, the police focused their attention on Mount Clear. However, they have since confirmed that the searches in that area have already ended.
On Friday, Detective Acting superintendent Mark Hatt confirmed that certain people who were involved in Murphy’s personal life have been regarded as persons of interest. These include her husband, Mick. Despite this, he noted that Mr Murphy was not a person of interest in his wife’s disappearance.
So far, the police have been speaking to various people who were either in her life or worked with her. Det. Hatt also praised the Murphy family for co-operating with the authorities. At this stage, Mr Murphy is not considered a suspect.
The people who were close to Murphy are considered persons of interest. The police also stated that they have not received information suggesting that she might have left the area she was in on her own accord.