Overview
- The hiker, 25‑year‑old Francisco de Paula Expósito, last contacted his family during the night of May 19–20 when he sent a WhatsApp message and a photo from the Spilios Agapitos refuge area indicating he was beginning the ascent.
- Witnesses say a German couple warned him not to continue because of poor weather and limited equipment and a British couple later reported seeing him head toward the Mytikas summit, though his name does not appear in the summit log.
- The Spanish embassy told the family the last mobile‑coverage ping occurred around 6 a.m. in the May 19–20 window but that the signal fixes a very wide area and cannot precisely locate him.
- Family members have flown to Greece, circulated a route photo to gather tips and noted he did not sleep at his booked Veranda Guest House room nor board the 13:30 bus from Katerini or a subsequent flight.
- Greek mountain rescue teams continue coordinated on‑the‑ground searches supported by consular staff, and teams are focused on steep, changeable sections between Skala, Skolio and Mytikas where weather and slippery rock raise the risk to a lone, lightly equipped climber.