Reduced hopes for the two climbers missing on Gran Sasso
The difficult search on Gran Sasso for the two missing climbers continues amid adverse weather conditions and increasingly diminishing hopes
Reduced hopes for the two climbers missing on Gran Sasso.
The current situation
Hopes of finding alive the two climbers from Romagna, Luca Perazzini (42 years old) and Cristian Gualdi (48 years old), missing on Gran Sasso since last Sunday, are fading. A team of rescuers from the Fiamme Gialle managed to reach Vallone dell'Inferno, the area where the two had sent their last distress signal, but the search has yielded no results. Despite the GPS coordinates provided by the two climbers at the time of the accident, no clear signs of their presence have been found in the indicated area.
The area is a stretch of rocks and snow, occasionally illuminated by the sun, but apparently devoid of any traces of the missing. The situation is made even more critical by adverse weather conditions, with strong winds, fog banks and a high risk of avalanches.
Difficulties in research operations
Weather conditions continue to hinder rescue operations. The helicopter was unable to ascend to the affected area due to strong winds and safety concerns. In the meantime, four Fiamme Gialle mountaineers carried out a preliminary exploration, taking advantage of a favorable weather window. Their goal was to assess the risks of the route and the conditions of the area, in view of a possible resumption of large-scale search operations.
As explained by the commander of the Alpine Rescue of the Guardia di Finanza of L'Aquila, Paolo Passalacqua, the mission is similar to that of searching for people under an avalanche, with the added complication of a particularly large and treacherous search front.

Experts' concerns
Rescuers are aware that the chances of finding Luca and Cristian alive are decreasing as time goes by. Financier Marco Moreschini told local broadcaster Rete 8 that, although hope is “the last to die,” the chances of survival after four days in those extreme conditions are dramatically low. Mountain experts agree: without adequate shelter, survival in such circumstances is practically impossible.
Precautions of rescuers
The volunteers of the regional Alpine Rescue, led by President Daniele Perilli, have not yet intervened directly in the area. The decision was made to ensure the safety of the teams, since the avalanche risk remains high (level 3 on a scale of 5). "Those who do rescue know that they must work safely," Perilli emphasized, recalling that the lives of dozens of rescuers cannot be put at risk.
During the Christmas holidays, many volunteers were stranded at the Campo Imperatore hostel due to the storm, but large-scale operations to explore the Vallone dell'Inferno require more favorable conditions. The Fiamme Gialle confirmed that an initial inspection allowed them to verify the possibility of working safely in the area.
The next moves
Search operations will resume tomorrow, with a first attempt to fly over the area by a helicopter. A Sonar Recco device will also be used for this mission, already successfully used in 2021 on Monte Velino to locate hikers lost under an avalanche. In addition, the Gran Sasso cable car will be reserved exclusively for rescue workers to facilitate access to the mountain.
Despite the relentless efforts and determination of the teams involved, the situation remains extremely delicate. The mountaineering community and the families of the missing are anxiously awaiting updates, while everyone's thoughts are with Luca and Cristian, with the faint hope that they may be found alive.
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