'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Loved Ones of Unaccounted For Teens Await Information After Ski Resort Fire
The relatives of teenagers lost after a tragic fire at a establishment in a Switzerland's ski resort are facing an painful wait for official news and appealing for information about their family members online.
The inferno ripped through the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the small hours of January 1st. Confirmed images reveal the ceiling catching alight as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.
Authorities have stated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of numerous partygoers and injured another 119. Officials stated on Friday that 113 of the injured have been identified, with work still underway to name the final individuals.
In the interim, relatives have been using online platforms to request any news about their friends who were present at the venue that fateful night.
Appeals for the Missing
The fate of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are not yet determined, according to an public plea from his family.
The resident of a town near the city, told a local newspaper that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the same in Bern, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, an ordeal. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she said.
She continued that some of his friends had been located with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they experienced hell."
The Italian government has said that a number of of its nationals remain missing.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, who hailed from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is deceased, 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 official spokesperson has indicated that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise unaccounted for. His parent explained that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the bar.
"A close friend told me they fled after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she said, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.
One of his teachers commented, "He was known for his kindness and positive demeanor, combined with great maturity. Often offer to help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss nationality but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also at the bar on that night, according to sources.
Her sibling has published an appeal online, saying the relatives has had "no information" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.