'Living a Nightmare': Loved Ones of Missing Young People Await Information After Ski Resort Fire
The relatives of teens missing after a devastating inferno at a bar in a Switzerland's alpine town are confronting an agonising wait for answers and requesting any details about their loved ones via social media.
The blaze engulfed the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Circulated footage depict the roof structure being engulfed in flames as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Emergency services have warned that it could take an extended period to identify the victims of the disaster, which resulted in the death of numerous partygoers and injured another 119. Officials stated on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with efforts still underway to locate the final individuals.
In the waiting period, families and friends have been posting on the internet to request information about their friends who were present at the venue that fateful night.
Desperate Searches for the Missing
The location of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an public plea from his family.
The who lives of Lutry near Lausanne, informed a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to see if he was in the medical facility, while his father did the same in Bern, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, an ordeal. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. It's terrible," she said.
She added that some of his peers had been located with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced an absolute nightmare."
The Italian government has said that six of its citizens are still unaccounted for.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, originally from Italy 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 fire, honoring a "talented young man who represented passion and true sportsmanship."
His father, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An official spokesperson has indicated that a formal confirmation of his death is awaited.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise unaccounted for. His parent said that he had been on holiday but had gone out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"A close friend said they fled after the fire erupted and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she said, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.
One of his educators stated, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great maturity. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also present on that night, according to sources.
Her brother has published an urgent request online, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her other nation say they are closely watching the developments.