Albanian search and rescue teams have launched an operation to locate two German tourists who went missing in the remote Polis Mountain area near the town of Librazhd, authorities said.

The two tourists have not been seen since Monday evening while participating in an off-road exploration trip in the mountainous region. They were reportedly part of a larger group of vehicles traveling through the area when they became separated from the rest of the convoy.

According to preliminary information, the group was exploring the rugged terrain of Polis Mountain when contact with the two individuals was lost.

Search and rescue teams have since been deployed to the area and are conducting operations to locate the missing tourists. The challenging terrain and limited infrastructure have complicated efforts to establish communication.

Mobile phone contact with the missing individuals has proven impossible, partly due to the lack of network coverage in the remote mountain region.

Authorities have not released the identities of the missing tourists and said search efforts are ongoing as teams continue to comb the area for any sign of the pair.