Mobile operators will now be obliged to give out information about the whereabouts of persons who have gone missing in the mountains.

Under amendments passed by Parliament on Wednesday, telecoms will have to provide rescue teams with the respective data within two hours of the signal being submitted.

Companies will be asked to establish whether a "mobile cell" of the missing tourist has been located.  

The legislation in force by now does not distinguish between missing hikers and other groups of missing persons. The procedure requires for a person to be declared missing, and it may take many hours before police is allowed to demand data on coordinates from mobile operators.