Search continues for Dutch women missing in Panama

PANAMA CITY, Panama, May 27 (UPI) -- Search efforts continue for two young women from the Netherlands who disappeared on April 2, while hiking in a forest surrounding Boquete, Panama.

Lisanne Froon, 22 and Kris Kremers, 21, had traveled to Panama's western highlands to do social work with children. They were last seen walking along a mountain path in the densely wooded area near the border with Costa Rica.

Panama's western border region is generally considered safe whereas visitors are warned against traveling around the eastern border with Colombia.

At first, their parents thought Froon and Kremers were lost in the forest but almost two months later, Kremers' father said they "are increasingly under the assumption there's a possibility of criminal intent." The families have offered a $30,000 reward for "concrete information" about their location.

On Sunday, a Dutch search team arrived in Boquete to help Panamanian authorities search for the missing women. The Dutch team is comprised of 18 people and 12 specially trained dogs.