Australian university professor and sister go missing in Argentine city as police say they suspect 'foul play'
- An Australian university professor and her sister have vanished in Argentina
- Dr Lily Pereg and Pyrhia Sarussi travelled to Mendoza to visit Ms Sarussi's son
- Pair were last heard from more than a week ago as local police suspect foul play
An Australian university professor and her sister are missing after travelling to Argentina last week to visit a family member.
Dr Lily Pereg, 54, an associate professor of microbiology at the University of New England, and her sister, Pyrhia Sarussi, 63, were last seen in the Argentine city of Mendoza visiting Ms Sarussi's son, Gil Pereg, 36.
The pair were last heard from more than a week ago in the early hours of January 11, and local police have said they suspect foul play.
Australian university professor Dr Lily Pereg, 54, and her sister Pyrhia Sarussi, 63, (pictured together) have vanished seemingly without a trace after travelling to Argentina last week
Lily Pereg (left) and Pyrhia Sarussi (right) were last seen in the Argentine city of Mendoza visiting Ms Sarussi's son, Gil Pereg, 36
The two sisters were renting an apartment in Mendoza, a city of about 120,000 people in the centre of the Argentine wine region, Pyrhia Sarusi's daughter Vered said in a Facebook post.
Ms Sarusi's son, Gil Pereg, told police he saw the two sisters board a bus to return to their rented apartment in the early hours of Friday morning.
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Mr Pereg, 36, is the local chairman of five companies established by his mother, Pyrhia, who lives in Israel, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
His home was reportedly raided by Mendoza Police.
The family has also hired a retired police officer who knows the two sisters personally, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help find the missing women.
The two sisters were renting an apartment in Mendoza, a city of about 120,000 people in the centre of the Argentine wine region (pictured), Pyrhia Sarusi's daughter Vered said
The pair (pictured) were last heard from more than a week ago in the early hours of January 11, and local police have said they suspect foul play
The Mendoza Police Force, Interpol, the Australian Police and the Israeli Police are currently investigating the disappearance.
Dr Pereg was brought up in Israel where she obtained her undergraduate degree, later moving to Australia in the mid 90s.
She completed a PhD in the Department of Agricultural Science at Sydney University and later moved to the University of New England where she was recently made a professor.
'Time is limited,' the GoFundMe page reads.
'Each day that passes without us hearing from these wonderful sisters, is heart wrenching.'
Anybody with any knowledge of the two is asked to contact lostinmendoza2019@gmail.com.
Dr Pereg (pictured) was brought up in Israel where she obtained her undergraduate degree, later moving to Australia in the mid 90s
