'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Families of Unaccounted For Teens Await Answers After Alpine Blaze
The loved ones of teens unaccounted for after a tragic inferno at a bar in a Swiss winter destination are confronting an agonising wait for answers and requesting clues about their children via social media.
The fire ripped through the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the middle of the night of January 1st. Confirmed footage show the ceiling catching alight as bottles with fireworks are raised in celebration.
Authorities have warned that it could take an extended period to identify the fatalities of the fire, which resulted in the death of numerous partygoers and hurt another 119. Authorities stated on Friday that 113 of the injured have been identified, with work still underway to identify the remaining few.
In the meantime, loved ones have been posting on social media to plead for information about their friends who were in attendance that night.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an public plea from his parent.
The resident of a town near Lausanne, explained to a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the same in the capital, but was unsuccessful.
"This is a living nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in a serious state. It's terrible," she told the paper.
She continued that some of his companions had been located with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they endured hell."
The Italian government has confirmed that a number of of its citizens remain missing.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is dead, without directly referencing the fire, honoring a "young athlete who carried with him dedication and authentic values."
His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An representative has indicated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise unaccounted for. His mother explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group and found himself at the bar.
"A close friend informed me they fled after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he lost sight of him," she explained, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers said, "He was known for his good nature and smile, alongside great maturity. Every time offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also at the bar on that night, according to reports.
Her brother has published an appeal on social media, saying the family has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.