POLICE IN Tenerife are investigating the disappearance of an Irish woman who vanished within hours of arriving on the holiday island.
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Butler (68) from Kilkenny travelled to the Canary Islands on Sunday morning for a family holiday.
Her two nieces, Olivia and Mary Doyle, were checking the group in at the Esmeralda Playa Hotel in Costa Adeje at about 11.30am when she vanished.
Ms Doyle said her aunt suffers from a mild form of Alzheimer's disease and may have wandered off.
"Our rooms were not ready for us on arrival and we had to wait around in the very big lobby of the hotel. Lizzie was seen walking through the automatic doors but simply vanished after that.
"We have spent all Sunday and Monday walking the streets and calling her name but to no avail and we are now very worried," said Ms Doyle.
Ireland's consul in Tenerife, Jaime Willis, contacted local Spanish media, expatriate newspapers and radio stations on Monday to ask for help in locating the woman as fears for her safety grew.
Posters with a recent photo of Mrs Butler have been circulated in the area and taxi companies, local hospitals and Tenerife South Airport have been alerted to be on the lookout for the woman.
Mrs Butler is 5ft 1in tall with black/grey hair. She was wearing black trousers, a light-blue top and white trainers and was carrying a black sports bag with her when she was last seen.
Efforts to find her are concentrating on the immediate area in the resort and in nearby Playa de Las Américas, both of which are popular destinations with Irish holidaymakers.