Volunteers and PSNI continue searches of Lagan in Dromore and Belfast after concerns for two people
Searches are continuing along the River Lagan after safety concerns were raised about two people, one in Dromore Co Down and one at the Ormeau Bridge in Belfast.
Searches began in Dromore Co Down on Tuesday afternoon while in Belfast they began early on Wednesday morning.
Sean McCarry, Regional Commander of the Community Rescue Service told the News Letter today that both searches are still ongoing.
"They are both ongoing, we're still using our special search teams to do the searches in both areas, working along with the police," he said.
Because the search teams know where both people were last seen, he said, they are "not in a wide scale search".
He added: "It is a smaller scale search in a more defined area. We'll continue those searches in coordination with the police, and we're going to continue the searches just for the rest of today [Thursday] at least."
He said that the searches have not been scaled back.
A PSNI spokeswoman said it had no updates to offer.
In Dromore, police said they are concerned for the welfare of missing man Archie Boal, 75, while in Belfast.
“The 75-year-old [Archie Boal] was last seen in the Brewery Lane area of Dromore on Tuesday afternoon, 20th January,” police said in a statement.
Police appealed for anyone with information in relation to Mr Boal's whereabouts to contact them immediately on 101, or 999 in an emergency, quoting reference number 798 20/01/26.
On Tuesday night Dromore DUP councillor Paul Rankin said on social media that the search operation was launched “after reports an elderly man entered the river late this afternoon”.
He added: “I would ask local people to pray for this family and to give space to the emergency services to carry out their work over the coming day.
Meanwhile, in Belfast the police and Coastguard were involved in a search and rescue operation at the Lagan River at Ormeau Bridge from about 7.30am on Wednesday.
An HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and Irish Coastguard helicopter were both sent to the scene.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also attended.