'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Families of Missing Young People Desperately Seek News After Ski Resort Fire
The relatives of teens unaccounted for after a deadly fire at a venue in a Switzerland's alpine town are confronting an agonising wait for official news and appealing for clues about their loved ones publicly.
The fire engulfed the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of the first day of the year. Verified footage show the roof structure catching alight as bottles with fireworks are raised in celebration.
Authorities have stated that it could take an extended period to formally name the fatalities of the fire, which killed four dozen individuals and injured another scores more. A spokesperson said on the latest update that 113 of the injured have been accounted for, with work continuing to name the other six.
In the interim, relatives have been posting on online platforms to request information 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 still unconfirmed, according to an heartfelt request from his parent.
The who lives of Lutry near the city, explained to a local newspaper that she had returned to the city to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the equivalent search in the capital, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in a serious state. It's horrific," she stated.
She added that some of his companions had been found with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they endured a terrifying ordeal."
The Italian foreign ministry has said that a number of of its citizens remain missing.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, who hailed from Italy but now residing in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values."
His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has clarified that a official announcement of his death is awaited.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise unaccounted for. His parent explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group and found himself at the bar.
"A companion informed me they ran away after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.
One of his educators commented, "I remember his kindness and smile, alongside great responsibility. He would frequently offer to help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek nationality but lives full-time in the country, was also present on that night, according to sources.
Her sibling has posted an appeal online, saying the family has had "no information" 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 case.