Emergency services are searching for a 23-year-old man who disappeared after being swept away by strong currents off a beach in Murcia.

The incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon at Playa de Matalentisco, near the coastal town of Aguilas.

Emergency services received the alert at around 5pm, with callers reporting that a swimmer was struggling to get back to shore.

A large-scale search operation was immediately launched involving the Guardia Civil, Local Police, Civil Protection volunteers, Red Cross teams and maritime rescue crews.

The search was later expanded to include the Pandora rescue vessel from Maritime Rescue and a regional emergency helicopter, which joined efforts to locate the missing swimmer from the air.

Rescuers focused much of their attention on the rocky western side of the beach, where the man was last believed to have been seen.

Despite hours of searching, no trace of the 23-year-old had been found by nightfall.

As darkness fell and visibility deteriorated, authorities were forced to suspend the operation temporarily.

The search was expected to resume at dawn on Friday.

Playa de Matalentisco is currently not covered by lifeguards under Murcia’s seasonal beach safety programme, with the official service not due to begin operating until July 1.

Authorities have not yet released the identity or nationality of the missing man. The search remains ongoing.