'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Families of Unaccounted For Teenagers Await News After Ski Resort Inferno
The families of teens missing after a deadly inferno at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are facing an excruciating period of uncertainty for answers and pleading for information about their loved ones via social media.
The fire devastated the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of New Year's Day. Circulated images show the roof structure catching alight as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.
Officials have warned that it could take an extended period to formally name the those who perished of the disaster, which claimed the lives of 40 people and wounded another over a hundred. A spokesperson said on the latest update that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with work still underway to name the remaining few.
In the interim, families and friends have been taking to social media to request clues about their missing relatives who were at the bar that evening.
Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For
The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, 16, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his mother.
The who lives of Lutry near the city, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to see if he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but was unsuccessful.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. Words cannot describe it," she told the paper.
She continued that some of his companions had been located with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that a number of of its nationals have not been located.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, who hailed from Genoa but now residing in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who represented dedication and true sportsmanship."
His father, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An representative has clarified that a official announcement of his death is not yet.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"A companion informed me they fled after the fire erupted and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he lost sight of him," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his educators stated, "I've always been struck by his good nature and smile, alongside great maturity. Often offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives permanently in the country, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to sources.
Her sibling has shared an urgent request online, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the 15-year-old or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her country of origin say they are actively engaged with the case.