Chile reopens investigation into Dutch tourist missing since 1985 as excavations begin

Chilean authorities have reopened the investigation into the disappearance of Dutch tourist Maarten Visser, who vanished in 1985 while traveling in the country, with new excavations underway near the southern volcano Osorno.

Investigating judge Alvaro Mesa, who typically handles human rights cases, ordered the recent digs in the municipality of Puerto Varas, approximately 28 miles west of the volcano. Visser, 18 at the time, had been traveling through several Latin American countries when he attempted to climb Osorno on December 12, 1985. He was last seen on a slope of the volcano. The reasons for choosing the Puerto Varas site for excavations have not been disclosed.

At the time of Visser’s disappearance, Chile was under the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

Visser’s family has appealed to the public to assist investigators, even anonymously, according to Chilean media. They have retained lawyer Francisco Bustos, who told reporters that “third parties were involved in Visser’s disappearance.”