<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The search for German backpacker Carolina Wilga has grown more urgent after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/carolina-wilga-search-for-backpacker-missing-from-outback-wa-expands-across-australia/91d37c37-34cd-4f4a-9c22-a16cf6ebfa4e" rel="" target="_blank" title="her van was found abandoned in outback Western Australia"><span>her van was found abandoned in outback Western Australia</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police found the distinctive Mitsubishi Delica van that the 26-year-old was driving in the Karroun Hill area yesterday afternoon, 11 days after she was last seen in Beacon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Additional resources have been deployed to the area as her family and authorities hold serious concerns for her welfare.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here is everything we know about her disappearance. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-picks-former-sydney-councillor-nick-adams-as-ambassador-to-malaysia/17cc7d55-db4a-4906-be9c-7c65a1f3e7f7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump hand-picks Aussie politician turned 'alpha male' for diplomatic role</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Who is Carolina Wilga?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga is a 26-year-old backpacker from Germany.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/carolina-wilga-german-backpacker-missing-everything-we-know-explained/91392032-b0d1-4f44-934b-c293c6e88ed1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She has been travelling across Australia for the past two years, but has recently called Western Australia home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She has been working at mines in regional parts of the state to fund her accommodation, predominantly at hostels in Perth. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga is described as having a slim build, with long wavy brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos, including one which depicts symbols on her left forearm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/penny-wong-warning-on-china-ahead-of-anthony-albanese-visit/a8aa1b6e-7de7-4abc-85b4-0a1395360c1f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Penny Wong warns of 'worrying' Chinese military buildup</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Where was Carolina Wilga last seen?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga was last seen driving her van in Beacon, more than 300km north-east of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, on June 29.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police released CCTV footage of her pulling up at a general store in Beacon about 12.10pm that day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga, dressed in blue jeans and a cream jumper, was seen peering into the store and walking around the property before leaving in the car about five minutes later.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was also the last time she was in contact with her friends. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kevin-rudd-details-emerge-around-rudd-and-trumps-secret-meeting/73e14c48-a47c-4d34-9e78-304122c56dc3" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Details emerge around Rudd and Trump's 'secret' meeting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What do we know about Carolina Wilga's movements? </span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have been told by friends that Wilga had planned to travel through regional WA, and also to the east coast. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A staff member at one of the places she stayed in Perth, The Old Fire Station Hostel, said she told "a lot of people different things".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I feel like as a traveller you're not really sure where's the next destination," Daniel Sammons told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga appeared to have been travelling in a north-east direction from Perth in her van. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga had stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay about 4.30pm on June 28 before travelling more than 70km to Dowerin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She then made her way more than 150km to Beacon on June 29, where she was last seen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police described the Wheatbelt region as having "inhospitable, rocky terrain".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her van was found abandoned further north-east in Karroun Hill yesterday, more than 90km from Beacon and 400km from Perth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/false-botox-virals-found-prompting-urgent-health-warnings/6eabffb7-eb4f-4e5d-a082-f983337659fc" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>False Botox vials found, prompting urgent health warnings</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police believe the van had suffered mechanical issues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilga was not found with her van and remains missing. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The family are understandably distraught, very worried, as any of us would be with a young family member on the other side of the world missing in such unusual circumstances," WA Police Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn told reporters yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-man-to-front-court-after-politician-threatened-on-social-media/4bae2e8b-2448-45d0-9d05-cabd333532c6" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sydney man to front court after MP allegedly threatened online</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What happens next in the search? </span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have ramped up their search, sending additional resources to Karroun Hill.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Planes and helicopters are scouring the area for Wilga as police follow up leads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have maintained that they are still exploring all lines of inquiry in the missing persons investigation and are not ruling anything out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anyone who may have information on Wilga's whereabouts is urged to come forward. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anyone with footage in the Beacon area and the surrounding north-east Wheatbelt area between June 29 and July 4 is also urged to contact Crime Stoppers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Someone out there must have some vital information which can assist WA Police in bringing Carolina back to her family and friends," Venn said yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>