'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Unaccounted For Teenagers Desperately Seek Information After Ski Resort Inferno
The relatives of young people unaccounted for after a deadly inferno at a bar in a Switzerland's ski resort are facing an agonising wait for confirmed information and appealing for any details about their family members via social media.
The fire devastated the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of January 1st. Confirmed video reveal the roof structure igniting as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.
Emergency services have warned that it could take days if not weeks to identify the those who perished of the disaster, which resulted in the death of 40 people and wounded another 119. A spokesperson said on the latest update that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with the process still underway to locate the other six.
In the waiting period, families and friends have been using the internet to appeal for clues about their loved ones who were at the bar that night.
Desperate Searches for the Missing
The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, 16, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his parent.
The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, informed a publication 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 was unsuccessful.
"This is a living nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she stated.
She added that some of his friends had been discovered with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they endured a terrifying ordeal."
The Italy's government has said that six of its young people remain missing.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old promising athlete, originally from Genoa but now living in Dubai.
The national sporting body has stated that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the fire, honoring a "talented young man who represented 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 clarified that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His mother said that he had been on vacation but had gone out with a group and found himself at the bar.
"A close friend told me they escaped after the fire started and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he lost sight of him," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his educators stated, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great maturity. Every time offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in the country, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to sources.
Her brother has posted an appeal on social media, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her other nation say they are closely watching the developments.