It wasn’t just the wind and fog that made it difficult to understand what was happening in Gran Sasso at this hour: although bad weather conditions reduced visibility in Campo Imperatore, there had been closed camping in the square for several days: the wheels sank into the snow and there was no trace of anyone driving. Documents found in the vehicle pointed to a 44-year-old Polish national, who had not been heard from since November 19.
The alarm went off just as several people going to the car park, complete with cable car which was closed for seasonal maintenance, noticed the static nature of the vehicles while weather conditions worsened. Snowfall over the last 48 hours has made access at altitude difficult for many vehicles: in these conditions, it would be difficult for a conventional camper to reach the square. This was confirmed by journalist Gianfranco Cocciolone, who said that he only managed to get into a 4×4 and therefore the vehicle must have been there before the disturbance occurred, a circumstance that initial investigations appear to confirm. Cocciolone also documented the situation through images spread on social media, helping to highlight the anomaly of campers stopping near the hostel and drawing attention to the area. On Monday the rescue engines were activated despite difficulties. Men from Alpine Rescue, Financial Police and firefighters could only operate by land: wind and visibility prevented helicopters from flying. Drone surveillance is almost useless.
The team covered the area up to the Duca degli Abruzzi and Garibaldi sanctuaries. The Carabinieri of Assergi (L’Aquila) took action on the front line. After forcing one of the doors and breaking a window, soldiers found no one inside, but did find a cellphone and a rental contract. The documents point to a 44-year-old Polish citizen. Video surveillance cameras at the square showed the man exiting the camper on Wednesday November 19 and walking away with his two dogs, with no subsequent images showing him returning to the plane. From that day on, the vehicle may remain stationary in the same place, while snow continues to accumulate on the car body. Police are now seeking contact with Polish authorities to verify reports of disappearances. The search will continue in the next few days, weather permitting.
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