British journalist missing in Brazil for more than 10 days, association says

A British journalist has been missing in Brazil for more than 10 days, a foreign correspondents' association said late on Tuesday, urging authorities to step up their search efforts.

Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, was reported missing after a trip to Sao Paulo, according to a statement from the Rio de Janeiro-based Association of Foreign Press Correspondents.

The group said she contacted a friend in Rio on February 8 about her plans to visit the coastal city and find a place to stay, but the friend "replied that unfortunately she could not host her."

"Days later, Charlotte's family in Britain contacted this friend saying they had lost contact with the journalist," ACIE added.

Peet had previously worked as a freelancer in Brazil, reporting for Al Jazeera and British news outlets.

ACIE said Sao Paulo police were handling the case, based on her last known whereabouts, adding that her family had shared with local authorities information about her flight to Brazil, as well as a copy of her passport.

Sao Paulo's public security office confirmed in a separate statement that "the case is being investigated by the 5th Missing Persons Unit, which is taking steps to locate the missing person and clarify the facts."