'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Relatives of Missing Teens Await News After Ski Resort Blaze
The families of teens unaccounted for after a devastating blaze at a venue in a Swiss ski resort are facing an painful wait for official news and appealing for any details about their family members publicly.
The fire devastated the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the early hours of January 1st. Verified images depict the ceiling catching alight as beverages with fireworks are held aloft.
Authorities have warned that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the fatalities of the disaster, which resulted in the death of 40 people and wounded another scores more. Authorities said on Friday that 113 of the injured have been accounted for, with efforts continuing to locate the final individuals.
In the interim, relatives have been taking to online platforms to request clues about their friends who were in attendance that fateful night.
Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For
The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an public plea from his mother.
The resident of Lutry near the city, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to the city to see if he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the same in the capital, but did not locate him.
"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 horrific," she told the paper.
She explained that some of his companions had been located with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they went through hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that six of its nationals remain missing.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, who hailed from Genoa but now living in Dubai.
The national sporting body has released a tribute that he is dead, without directly referencing the tragedy, honoring a "young athlete who embodied dedication and true sportsmanship."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has indicated that a formal confirmation of his death is awaited.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise among the missing. His mother told reporters that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"Someone with him said they escaped after the fire erupted and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his educators said, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great responsibility. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek nationality but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to media.
Her sibling has published an appeal on social media, saying the relatives has had "no news" regarding the 15-year-old or the group she was with, who are also reported missing.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are closely watching the case.