'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Missing Teens Await News After Ski Resort Fire
The loved ones of teens unaccounted for after a deadly fire at a establishment in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an agonising wait for confirmed information and appealing for information about their children online.
The blaze devastated the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the small hours of January 1st. Circulated video depict the roof structure being engulfed in flames as beverages with fireworks are held aloft.
Emergency services have stated that it could take an extended period to identify the victims of the tragedy, which killed four dozen individuals and wounded another scores more. Authorities said on Friday that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with work continuing to identify the other six.
In the meantime, families and friends have been taking to online platforms to request any news about their friends who were at the bar that evening.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his parent.
The who lives of a town near the city, explained to a publication that she had returned to the city to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but did not locate him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in a serious state. It's horrific," she stated.
She explained that some of his companions had been found with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they endured hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed that six of its nationals are still unaccounted for.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, originally from Genoa but now residing in the UAE.
The national sporting body has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the fire, paying tribute to a "talented young man who carried with him dedication and true sportsmanship."
His parent, reportedly stated 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 Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on holiday but had gone out with friends and found himself at the venue.
"Someone with him informed 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 distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his educators commented, "I've always been struck by his good nature and smile, coupled with great responsibility. He would frequently ask if 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 shared an urgent request on social media, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the 15-year-old or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her other nation say they are closely watching the situation.