Authorities in all states and territories are on the lookout for 26-year-old Carolina Wilga, who has been travelling across Australia for the past two years and was most recently working at mines in regional parts of WA to fund her stays at hostels.
She was last seen in Beacon, about 300km north-east of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, on June 29.
Police discovered the distinctive black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van that she had been driving abandoned in the Karroun Hill area, in the north-east Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, at about 1.10pm (AWST) today.
It is believed to have suffered mechanical issues.
Police are now deploying extra resources to search the area for Wilga.
Earlier today, police shared footage of her pulling up to a general store in the town at about 12.10pm on June 20 in the van.
Wilga, dressed in blue jeans and a grey jumper, was seen peering into the store and walking around the property before leaving in the car about five minutes later.
She had stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay about 4.30pm the day before and then travelled to Dowerin before making her way to Beacon.
“We hope this will cause a member of the public to recognise Carolina as somebody they have seen or jog their memory and provide us with something that may be relevant in our search for her,” Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn said.
Venn said Wilga’s disappearance is “unexplained” and her family overseas are concerned.
“The family are understandably distraught, very worried, as any of us would be with a young family member on the other side of the world missing in such unusual circumstances,” she said.
“We’re doing everything we can.”
Venn said all states and territories had been notified and have alerts on for her vehicle, as friends have advised that she intended to travel to regional WA and the east coast.
“Therefore, our search is vast,” she said.
Planes and helicopters have been scouring the Wheatbelt area, which Venn described as having “inhospitable, rocky terrain”.
Police have also been following up on leads across the state, including Esperance, Albany and Margaret River.
“She could be off grid, not have access to her phone, and she certainly had capacity in the vehicle she was travelling in to be self-sufficient for quite some time,” Venn said.
Venn stressed that, despite the homicide squad’s involvement, her disappearance remains a missing persons investigation, and there is no indication of any third-party involvement.
“But our minds are open to any line of inquiry or any information that people bring forward to us,” she said.
Wilga is described as having a slim build, with long wavy brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos, including one which depicts symbols on her left forearm.
Anyone with information or footage in the Beacon area and the surrounding north-east Wheatbelt area between June 29 and July 4 is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
“Someone out there must have some vital information which can assist WA Police in bringing Carolina back to her family and friends,” Venn said.
