'Living a Nightmare': Families of Missing Young People Await Information After Alpine Fire
The loved ones of teenagers lost after a tragic fire at a establishment in a Switzerland's alpine town are confronting an excruciating period of uncertainty for confirmed information and appealing for clues about their children publicly.
The blaze engulfed the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Confirmed footage show the ceiling being engulfed in flames as beverages with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Emergency services have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the victims of the fire, which resulted in the death of four dozen individuals and hurt another over a hundred. Officials stated on the latest update that 113 of the those hurt have been accounted for, with efforts ongoing to locate the other six.
In the meantime, families and friends have been using online platforms to appeal for information about their loved ones who were in attendance that fateful night.
Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For
The location of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are currently unknown, according to an heartfelt request from his mother.
The resident of a town near Lausanne, informed a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in Bern, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in intensive care. It's horrific," she told the paper.
She explained that some of his friends had been located with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they went through hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that six of its nationals are still unaccounted for.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, originally from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The national sporting body has stated that he is deceased, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him dedication and true sportsmanship."
His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has indicated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Other Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also among the missing. His parent said that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the bar.
"Someone with him informed me they escaped 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 said, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.
One of his teachers stated, "I remember his kindness and smile, combined with great maturity. Often offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss nationality but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to media.
Her sibling has published an urgent request online, saying the family has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also reported missing.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are continuing to monitor the situation.