'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Relatives of Missing Young People Desperately Seek Answers After Ski Resort Blaze
The families of teenagers unaccounted for after a devastating inferno at a bar in a Swiss winter destination are confronting an agonising period of uncertainty for confirmed information and pleading for clues about their family members via social media.
The blaze engulfed the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of New Year's Day. Confirmed images show the ceiling being engulfed in flames as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.
Emergency services have warned that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the fatalities of the fire, which resulted in the death of numerous partygoers and wounded another over a hundred. Officials stated on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with the process still underway to name the other six.
In the waiting period, loved ones have been using social media to request information about their missing relatives who were at the bar that evening.
Appeals for the Missing
The location of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his mother.
The resident of Lutry near the city, told a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his father did the same in the capital, but did not locate him.
"This is a living nightmare, a nightmare. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in intensive care. It's terrible," she told the paper.
She continued that some of his peers had been found with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they went through hell."
The Italy's foreign ministry has confirmed that a number of of its nationals remain missing.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, originally from Italy but now residing in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "talented young man who represented passion and authentic values."
His parent, told media that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An representative has indicated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His parent said that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"A companion said they escaped after the fire started and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he lost sight of him," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his educators commented, "He was known for his good nature and smile, combined with great maturity. Often offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek nationality but lives full-time in the country, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to reports.
Her sibling has posted an appeal on social media, saying the relatives has had "no news" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her other nation say they are actively engaged with the situation.