'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Unaccounted For Teens Await Information After Ski Resort Inferno
The families of teenagers missing after a deadly inferno at a establishment in a Switzerland's alpine town are enduring an excruciating period of uncertainty for answers and appealing for any details about their family members via social media.
The blaze engulfed the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of January 1st. Verified footage show the roof structure catching alight as bottles with fireworks are held aloft.
Officials have warned that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the victims of the fire, which claimed the lives of four dozen individuals and wounded another 119. A spokesperson noted on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with the process continuing to locate the other six.
In the meantime, relatives have been posting on the internet to request any news about their loved ones who were present at the venue that night.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his parent.
The who lives of a town near Lausanne, informed a publication that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but could not find him.
"This is a living nightmare, a horror. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she stated.
She explained that some of his companions had been discovered with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced a terrifying ordeal."
The Italy's foreign ministry has indicated that a number of of its nationals are still unaccounted for.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old promising athlete, who hailed from Genoa but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who represented passion and true sportsmanship."
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 not yet.
Further Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also among the missing. His parent said that he had been on holiday but had gone out with friends and ended up at the bar.
"Someone with him told me they fled after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.
One of his educators commented, "He was known for his good nature and smile, alongside great maturity. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss nationality but lives full-time in the country, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to reports.
Her brother has shared an urgent request online, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also reported missing.
Officials from her other nation say they are actively engaged with the developments.