'Living a Nightmare': Relatives of Missing Teens Await Information After Alpine Blaze
The relatives of young people missing after a deadly blaze at a venue in a Swiss ski resort are confronting an agonising wait for confirmed information and appealing for any details about their loved ones online.
The fire devastated the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of New Year's Day. Circulated images reveal the ceiling igniting as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.
Authorities have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the those who perished of the disaster, which killed numerous partygoers and hurt another scores more. Officials noted on the latest update that the majority of the those hurt have been identified, with the process ongoing to identify the remaining few.
In the interim, families and friends have been posting on the internet to request clues about their loved ones who were in attendance that evening.
Appeals for the Missing
The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an public plea from his parent.
The resident of Lutry near the city, explained to a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his father did the equivalent search in the capital, but could not find him.
"This is a living nightmare, an ordeal. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. It's terrible," she said.
She added that some of his peers had been found with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they went through an absolute nightmare."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that a number of of its citizens remain missing.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now residing in the UAE.
The national sporting body has released a tribute that he is deceased, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "talented young man who embodied passion and authentic values."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around the new year. An representative has clarified that a formal confirmation of his death is not yet.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on vacation but had gone out with a group and ended up at the bar.
"A close friend said they escaped after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers commented, "I've always been struck by his good nature and positive demeanor, alongside great maturity. 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 media.
Her brother has shared an appeal online, saying the family has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Consular authorities from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the case.