'Living a Nightmare': Relatives of Missing Teens Await Information After Ski Resort Fire
The families of young people unaccounted for after a devastating inferno at a bar in a Switzerland's winter destination are confronting an agonising wait for answers and requesting any details about their children publicly.
The inferno engulfed the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of the Valais region, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Circulated footage show the roof structure being engulfed in flames as bottles with fireworks are raised in celebration.
Officials have indicated that it could take an extended period to formally name the those who perished of the disaster, which resulted in the death of numerous partygoers and injured another 119. Authorities said on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with the process ongoing to name the other six.
In the interim, relatives have been using the internet to request any news about their loved ones who were present at the venue that evening.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are not yet determined, according to an appeal from his family.
The resident of a town near the city, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in the capital, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in a serious state. It's terrible," she told the paper.
She explained that some of his friends had been located with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they endured hell."
The Italy's foreign ministry has said that six of its young people remain missing.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, who hailed from Italy but now residing in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the fire, honoring a "young athlete who embodied dedication and authentic values."
His father, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An official spokesperson has clarified that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Further Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with friends and ended up at the bar.
"A close friend said they fled after the fire started and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.
One of his teachers said, "He was known for his kindness and positive demeanor, combined with great maturity. Often offer to help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to sources.
Her sibling has posted an appeal on social media, saying the family has had "no news" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Officials from her country of origin say they are actively engaged with the developments.