Sniffer dogs help in search for Irish backpacker

The search for an Irish backpacker missing in a remote stretch of the Chilean-Argentinian border was tonight focussing on a 20km sq area.

Ronan Lawlor was last seen on November 18 travelling by bus to a park in the Patagonian region.

The 28 year-old from Durrow, Co Laois, has not been in contact with friends or family since he entered the Torres del Paine national park.

Following requests from Irish officials, a team of sniffer dogs from Argentina were being deployed in the area.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern intervened urging authorities in South America to give more resources to the search.

Mr Ahern telephoned Chile's acting Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaberin.

"I urged him to provide any assistance they can in the search for Mr Lawlor, in particular I stressed the need at this stage for the use of sniffer dogs in the search," the minister said.

"The Chilean, like the Argentinian Government, have expressed their willingness to help in any way they can.

"The Irish Government is determined to do all it can to help."

The sniffer dogs are expected to be deployed in the park tomorrow.

It is understood search teams are focussing on a 20km sq area in the Torres del Paine National Park on the Chilean side of the border.

It is understood Mr Lawlor had travelled from the Argentinian side.

Friends and cousins of Mr Lawlor have flown to Argentina and are being assisted by consular staff in Buenos Aires.

The Lawlor family have been told the backpacker was last seen on a bus on the way to the park. A couple travelling in the same area revealed they had met Mr Lawlor and he told them the direction he was going and the campsite he intended to stay at.

Search and rescue teams were focussing on this area.

Mr Ahern also spoke to the Chilean Ambassador in Dublin and the Irish Ambassador in Argentina Philomena Murnaghan.