Nora Quoirin: Prayers for missing girl as jungle search continues

Prayers have been said for missing teenager Nora Quoirin and her mother's voice was played over speakers during a search of the Malaysian jungle.

A team of 250 is trying to locate Nora, 15, who has special needs and vanished from the Dusan resort on Sunday.

Nora's mother, Meabh, can be heard on the loudspeaker recording saying: "Nora darling, Nora I love you, mum is here."

Her family have said Nora is "not independent and does not go anywhere alone".

Nearby Kariah Pantai Mosque held special prayers for the teenager on Thursday.

Nora's family said she had been born with holoprosencephaly, a disorder which affects brain development, and "struggles with coordination".

Her aunt Éadaoin Agnew said Nora had spent a lot of time in hospital "all her life", and needed operations after she was born to help her breathing.

Her physical and mental abilities are continually monitored by specialists, Ms Agnew told RTÉ Radio 1.

Ms Agnew said her niece enjoyed walking with her family but "her balance is limited and she struggles with coordination".

She said Nora had previously travelled with her family to Asia and Europe and "never wandered off or got lost".

"Nora's very shy and can be quite anxious," Ms Agnew said, adding: "She was just extremely excited to spend time with her family in Malaysia."

Earlier, the mosque held special prayers for the teenager.

"We want to help the search and rescue," committee secretary Abu Bakar Othman said.

"We sympathise and we understand the feelings of parents who have lost their child, and especially for me as I'm also a teacher of children with special needs."

By Howard Johnson, BBC News

I am in Pantai - about five minutes away from where Nora went missing.

Police are handing out flyers to the local community and there are lots of different search and rescue teams.

Drones are also being flown over the jungle in an attempt to find her.

This is a 15sq km nature reserve. There are rivers, creeks, all sorts of nasty animals and insects there.

It's wedged next to this great expansive jungle, this green nothingness.

Nora, her parents - an Irish-French couple from London - and her younger brother and sister, arrived at the resort near Seremban, about 40 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.

Her father raised the alarm the following morning when Nora was missing from her bedroom with the window open.

Police chief Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop said it was believed Nora had climbed out of the window.

He told Malaysian publication The Star they needed to find the teenager urgently.

"An able-bodied or normal person would be weak by the fifth day, and that is why we need to find the victim as soon as possible," he said.

Nora's photograph is also being handed out at roadblocks in the area.

Nora's family have said they remain hopeful after police leading the investigation refused to rule out a "criminal element".

The family issued an earlier statement welcoming "the assistance of the French, British and Irish police".

"We are completely overwhelmed by the support we have received from all over the world," they said.

"And we ask everyone to keep Nora in their thoughts, and to continue to support the ongoing search for her.

"Nora is still missing, and she is very vulnerable, and we need to do everything we can to bring her home."

Missing persons charity the Lucie Blackman Trust, which is supporting the family, has provided a hotline and email address for information.

People can remain anonymous and can call +448000988485 or email [email protected].