'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Loved Ones of Missing Young People Desperately Seek News After Ski Resort Fire
The relatives of young people missing after a devastating blaze at a bar in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an painful wait for confirmed information and appealing for any details about their loved ones via social media.
The blaze engulfed the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of the first day of the year. Circulated video reveal the roof structure catching alight as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Officials have stated that it could take considerable time to identify the fatalities of the disaster, which claimed the lives of four dozen individuals and injured another scores more. Authorities noted on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with efforts ongoing to identify the other six.
In the waiting period, families and friends have been taking to social media to plead for information about their loved ones who were in attendance that fateful night.
Desperate Searches for the Missing
The fate of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are still unconfirmed, according to an public plea from his mother.
The resident of a town near the city, informed a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to see if he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the equivalent search in Bern, but was unsuccessful.
"I'm living a nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. It's terrible," she told the paper.
She continued that some of his friends had been found with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they went through an absolute nightmare."
The Italian foreign ministry has said that six of its nationals have not been located.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old promising athlete, who hailed from Genoa but now living in the UAE.
The national sporting body has released a tribute that he is deceased, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An representative has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Further Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also among the missing. His parent told reporters that he had been on vacation but had gone out with friends and found himself at the venue.
"A close friend informed me they escaped after the fire started and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she explained, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers said, "I've always been struck by his kindness and positive demeanor, combined with great maturity. Often ask if get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also present on that night, according to media.
Her brother has shared an urgent request on social media, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Officials from her country of origin say they are continuing to monitor the situation.