A search-and-rescue operation is underway after two German tourists sent an SOS signal after becoming stranded on Çika Mountain in southern Albania, according to preliminary information.

Local reports indicate the pair are believed to have lost their way while hiking through the area's rugged mountainous terrain. Authorities also suspect that one of the tourists may have suffered an injury or experienced a medical emergency.

Rescue teams were dispatched immediately after the distress signal was received. The operation involves members of the Delta Force special unit, officers from the Vlorë Police Directorate, and personnel from the Protected Areas Administration, all working to locate and assist the stranded hikers.

A helicopter has also been placed on standby and will be deployed if weather conditions, the terrain, or the tourists' condition require an aerial evacuation.

The rescue operation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet released further details on the condition of the two tourists or the progress of the mission.

The incident marks the fifth case in the past two months in which foreign tourists have become stranded, lost, or injured while exploring the mountainous area around Çika, highlighting the challenges posed by the region's demanding terrain.