'Living a Nightmare': Families of Missing Teenagers Await News After Ski Resort Fire
The families of teens lost after a tragic blaze at a venue in a Swiss winter destination are confronting an agonising period of uncertainty for official news and requesting information about their loved ones online.
The fire ripped through the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the small hours of New Year's Day. Verified footage depict the ceiling being engulfed in flames as bottles with fireworks are raised in celebration.
Emergency services have stated that it could take considerable time to identify the fatalities of the tragedy, which killed 40 people and injured another 119. Officials said on the latest update that the majority of the injured have been identified, with efforts continuing to locate the remaining few.
In the interim, families and friends have been taking to the internet to appeal for clues about their loved ones who were in attendance that night.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The location of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are currently unknown, according to an public plea from his parent.
The who lives of Lutry near the city, explained to a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but was unsuccessful.
"This is a living nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in a serious state. Words cannot describe it," she said.
She continued that some of his friends had been discovered with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "There are no words; they went through an absolute nightmare."
The Italian government has indicated that a number of of its citizens have not been located.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The national sporting body has released a tribute that he is deceased, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied passion and true sportsmanship."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around midnight. An representative has clarified that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Other Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with friends and ended up at the bar.
"Someone with him informed me they ran away after the fire started and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he they were separated," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers stated, "I've always been struck by his good nature and positive demeanor, combined with great responsibility. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives permanently in the country, was also at the bar on that night, according to reports.
Her brother has shared an appeal on social media, saying the relatives has had "no information" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Officials from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the developments.