Authorities on Saba are urging the public to stay off all hiking trails from 1 pm on May 18 as search efforts intensify for missing man Erik Matthijsen.

Officials said the restriction is necessary to facilitate the ongoing search operation and to provide rescue teams with adequate space to conduct their work safely and efficiently.

Search teams resumed operations early this morning and now include personnel from USAR.NL, who arrived on Saba from the Netherlands yesterday, as well as experienced members of the Saba Conservation Foundation.

Erik Matthijsen has been missing since May 13 and he was last seen in the Well’s Bay area.