Police Locate Backpacker's Abandoned Van in Remote WA Outback

Police have located Carolina Wilga's abandoned van in the outback 11 days after she vanished. The search for the missing backpacker in Western Australia has intensified. The van was found in a remote area, and police are continuing to search for Wilga.

Police in Western Australia have located the abandoned van of missing backpacker Carolina Wilga, 11 days after she vanished. The search for the 26-year-old German national, who has been backpacking in Australia for two years, has intensified as authorities continue to scour the remote outback region where her vehicle was found.

The van, a black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica, was located in the Karroun Hill area, north-east of Perth, in the Wheatbelt region. The vehicle is believed to have suffered mechanical issues, which could have led to Wilga's disappearance. The search for Wilga is ongoing, with additional resources being deployed to the area.

Wilga was last seen on June 29 at a general store in Beacon, a small town in the north-east Wheatbelt region. She had expressed an interest in traveling to remote parts of Western Australia and the east coast. Her phone is not switched on, and police have said they are "very concerned" for her safety.

Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn has described the search as a missing person investigation with "no indication that there’s any third party involvement in her disappearance." However, the search area is vast, and police are keeping an open mind to any potential leads.

The 26-year-old is described as slim, with long wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and tattoos including symbols on her left arm. Her mother has pleaded for help in finding her daughter, writing on Facebook that she is "sorely missed."

Police have urged anyone with information, especially those with footage taken in Beacon or the surrounding north-east Wheatbelt area between June 29 and July 4, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/10/carolina-wilga-missing-german-backpacker-search-western-australia
[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-10/search-continues-for-german-backpacker-carolina-wilga/105515464
[3] https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/police-search-intensifies-for-missing-german-backpacker-caroline-wilga-in-wa/news-story/b1d7441b746ad386778adb536e7fca0e