'Living a Nightmare': Loved Ones of Unaccounted For Young People Await Information After Alpine Fire
The loved ones of young people lost after a devastating blaze at a bar in a Swiss winter destination are facing an painful wait for official news and appealing for clues about their children publicly.
The blaze devastated the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of the Valais region, in the middle of the night of January 1st. Verified footage reveal the roof structure igniting as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.
Officials have warned that it could take considerable time to formally name the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 40 people and hurt another over a hundred. Authorities noted on Friday that 113 of the injured have been identified, with work still underway to name the other six.
In the waiting period, loved ones have been taking to online platforms to appeal for information about their loved ones who were at the bar that fateful night.
Appeals for the Unaccounted For
The location of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his family.
The who lives of a town near the city, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the same in the capital, but did not locate him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in a serious state. It's terrible," she told the paper.
She explained that some of his peers had been found with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they went through a terrifying ordeal."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that six of its nationals have not been located.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, who hailed from Italy but now residing in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is no longer with us, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "talented young man who carried with him dedication and authentic values."
His father, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around the new year. An representative has stated that a official announcement of his death is awaited.
Other Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His mother told reporters 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 ran away after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.
One of his educators commented, "I remember his kindness and positive demeanor, combined with great responsibility. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss nationality but lives permanently in the country, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to media.
Her brother has published an urgent request on social media, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Officials from her country of origin say they are actively engaged with the developments.