The Italian government is in a race against time to determine the exact number of citizens affected by the pandemic. explosion in Crans-Montana, SwitzerlandBy the end of the night on Thursday (1st), the official tally confirmed 13 Italians hospitalized e six missingHowever, the numbers fluctuated dramatically throughout the day, reflecting the chaos in identifying the victims.
In the late afternoon, the Italian ambassador in Bern, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, reported 19 Italians missing. Hours later, some of this group were located in hospitals in the region, reducing the search list but maintaining the highest alert level. "We are compiling the list with the embassy, the consulate, and the families. We don't yet have a complete picture," declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.
Distribution of the wounded and repatriation
The logistics of providing aid to the Italians involve medical centers in three Swiss cities and the hospital infrastructure in Milan:
- Zion: 3 Italians (already repatriated to Italy by helicopter).
- Zurich: 1 Italian (in serious condition).
- Bern: 1 Italian.
- Total in hospitals: Between 12 and 15 citizens, according to the latest updates from the chancellery.
The Niguarda Hospital in Milan has been put on standby to receive the most seriously injured, including a 16-year-old boy with severe burns to the head. Transport is being carried out by rescue aircraft to ensure that treatment continues on Italian soil.
Identification made difficult
The biggest obstacle to finalizing the numbers is the condition of the fatalities at the Le Constellation bar. Swiss police have confirmed 47 deaths in total, but many remain unidentified due to the severity of their burns. As the Crans-Montana resort is a traditional elite destination for young people from northern Italy, authorities fear that some of the missing may be among the unidentified bodies still at the Sion morgue.
Tajani appealed to Italian families who have been unable to contact relatives in Switzerland to immediately contact the Farnesina Crisis Unit. "Tomorrow morning I will be on site to closely monitor the situation of our fellow citizens," the minister stated.
