'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Missing Young People Await News After Ski Resort Fire
The families of teens unaccounted for after a deadly inferno at a venue in a Switzerland's ski resort are confronting an agonising wait for answers and requesting information about their children online.
The blaze engulfed the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Verified images depict the roof structure being engulfed in flames as beverages with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Officials have warned that it could take an extended period to formally name the fatalities of the fire, which resulted in the death of numerous partygoers and hurt another 119. Officials said on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with work continuing to locate the final individuals.
In the waiting period, families and friends have been taking to online platforms to appeal for information about their missing relatives who were at the bar that fateful night.
Appeals for the Missing
The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are still unconfirmed, according to an public plea from his family.
The resident of a town near Lausanne, informed a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the equivalent search in Bern, but was unsuccessful.
"This is a living nightmare, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. It's terrible," she said.
She continued that some of his friends had been discovered with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "There are no words; they endured hell."
The Italy's government has said that six of its citizens have not been located.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, originally from Italy but now residing in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values."
His father, 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 not yet.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also among the missing. His mother explained that he had been on holiday but had gone out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"Someone with him told me they escaped 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 recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his educators commented, "I remember his good nature and positive demeanor, combined with great maturity. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek nationality but lives full-time in the country, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to reports.
Her brother has published an urgent request 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.