'Living a Nightmare': Families of Unaccounted For Teens Await Answers After Alpine Fire
The loved ones of teens missing after a deadly inferno at a venue in a Switzerland's ski resort are confronting an agonising period of uncertainty for confirmed information and pleading for clues about their family members via social media.
The blaze ripped through the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of the first day of the year. Confirmed footage reveal the ceiling catching alight as beverages with fireworks are raised in celebration.
Emergency services have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the fatalities of the fire, which claimed the lives of 40 people and wounded another 119. Officials stated on the latest update that the majority of the injured have been identified, with work continuing to identify the final individuals.
In the interim, relatives have been posting on the internet to request any news about their missing relatives who were in attendance that evening.
Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For
The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are not yet determined, according to an public plea from his family.
The resident of a town near Lausanne, told a publication that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in Bern, but could not find him.
"This is a living nightmare, an ordeal. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. It's horrific," she stated.
She continued that some of his companions had been discovered with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "There are no words; they endured an absolute nightmare."
The Italian government has said that six of its nationals remain missing.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, originally from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The national sporting body has stated that he is dead, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied dedication and true sportsmanship."
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 awaited.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His parent said that he had been on vacation but had gone out with a group and found himself at the venue.
"A companion said they ran away after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.
One of his educators said, "I remember his good nature and positive demeanor, coupled with great responsibility. Every time offer to help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss nationality but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also at the bar on that night, according to reports.
Her sibling has posted an urgent request online, saying the relatives has had "no news" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.