Eighteen years after Madeleine McCann’s disappearance from an apartment block in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, residents are “fed up” with the ongoing mystery. Tourism has halved since her disappearance in 2007, as locals struggle to move on from the devastating impact of the case.
Locals have their own theories about what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday apartment at Ocean Club resort while her parents had dinner nearby. Many express frustration that “the case won’t go away,” with some speculating that the ground in the area is too hard for police to find evidence.
Restaurant owner Mariana Baiao said locals were shocked by the McCanns’ decision to leave their young children unattended, and it had a significant impact on tourism. The resort’s calm atmosphere was disrupted, leading to a 50% decline in visitors during that time.
Despite skepticism about the latest search efforts, Baiao noted that the search site matches a disturbing dream made by Kate McCann. The mother had also jogged up to a cliff overlooking Praia Da Luz, which is now being searched.
Staff at the Ocean Club resort were unable to comment on the investigation, and holidaymakers remained blissfully unaware of the grim search efforts as they sunbathed by the pool. The case continues to make worldwide headlines after almost two decades, leaving many in the community feeling fed up with the lack of answers.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/madeleine-mccann-search-new-praia-da-luz-b2764795.html