The skier, believed to be around 20 years old, vanished while exploring the slopes alone, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.

The alarm was raised by the skier's friends after he failed to return to their group.

A team of 12 firefighters with five vehicles is scouring the area, focusing their search along the ski runs. The Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK) from Thessaloniki has been deployed to bolster the search effort, bringing with them their highly trained search dog, Talos.

Talos, a Belgian shepherd with a proven track record in disaster response, including assisting in the aftermath of the recent Turkish earthquake, is a valuable asset in the search.

A drone is also being used to survey the mountainous terrain from above, providing a wider view of the search area.

Officials acknowledge that such rescue operations can be lengthy, depending on weather conditions and the challenges of the terrain.

As time passes, concerns are growing for the missing skier's safety, and rescuers are working tirelessly to locate him before nightfall.