'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Relatives of Unaccounted For Teens Await Information After Ski Resort Inferno
The relatives of teenagers unaccounted for after a deadly fire at a establishment in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an painful wait for confirmed information and requesting any details about their family members via social media.
The blaze devastated the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of January 1st. Circulated images depict the roof structure catching alight as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.
Authorities have indicated that it could take considerable time to identify the victims of the disaster, which killed 40 people and wounded another 119. Officials noted on Friday that 113 of the injured have been identified, with efforts ongoing to locate the other six.
In the meantime, loved ones have been taking to social media to plead for clues about their friends who were in attendance that evening.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Unaccounted For
The fate of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are not yet determined, according to an public plea from his mother.
The resident of a town near Lausanne, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to see if he was in the hospital, while his father did the same in the capital, but did not locate him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she said.
She continued that some of his peers had been found with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "There are no words; they went through a terrifying ordeal."
The Italian government has confirmed that six of its nationals have not been located.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage sportsman, who hailed from Genoa but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is dead, without directly referencing the tragedy, 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 the new year. An official spokesperson has clarified that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Additional Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise unaccounted for. His mother explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"Someone with him told me they escaped after the fire erupted and that he had his mobile 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 teachers said, "I remember his kindness and smile, combined with great responsibility. Every time offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to reports.
Her brother has shared an urgent request on social media, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.