'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Loved Ones of Missing Teens Await News After Ski Resort Inferno
The families of young people unaccounted for after a devastating inferno at a venue in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an agonising wait for official news and requesting information about their children publicly.
The fire ripped through the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of January 1st. Circulated images depict the ceiling catching alight as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.
Emergency services have indicated that it could take considerable time to identify the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of four dozen individuals and wounded another 119. A spokesperson stated on Friday that 113 of the injured have been accounted for, with efforts continuing to identify the final individuals.
In the interim, families and friends have been using online platforms to plead for information about their loved ones who were in attendance that night.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Unaccounted For
The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his family.
The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, 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 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 a serious state. Words cannot describe it," she said.
She explained that some of his peers had been found with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they endured a terrifying ordeal."
The Italy's foreign ministry has confirmed that six of its citizens remain missing.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, who hailed from Genoa but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the fire, honoring a "young athlete who embodied dedication and authentic values."
His parent, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around the new year. An representative has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is awaited.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise among the missing. His parent told reporters that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with friends and found himself at the bar.
"A companion told me they escaped after the fire started and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he couldn't see him anymore," she explained, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers commented, "I've always been struck by his good nature and positive demeanor, coupled with great maturity. He would frequently offer to help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on that night, according to reports.
Her brother has posted an urgent request on social media, saying the family has had "no news" regarding the 15-year-old or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the situation.