Relatives of 10 Japanese skiers believed aboard the Austrian funicular train that turned into a deadly inferno inside a tunnel over the weekend, arrived here Monday, clinging to fading hopes that their loved ones will turn up alive.
Six people, including the parents of Saori Mitsumoto, 22, and Ryoko Narahara, 22, both Keio University ski club members, headed for the funicular station at the foot of the mountain directly after arriving at Kaprun by bus from Munich airport in Germany, according to an official of the Tokyo travel agency that organized the tour for the skiers.
After passing through a police cordon and arriving at the station aboard a Red Cross vehicle, the mothers of two of the students pointed to the entrance of the tunnel about 600 meters away, whispered that their loved ones were inside, then repeatedly called out their names, officials said.
Relatives of the Austrian and German victims were meanwhile praying for their loved ones at the station. They offered candles to the six Japanese, who lighted them, placed them on the ground and joined in prayer.