The loved ones of young people missing after a tragic blaze at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are confronting an excruciating wait for official news and appealing for any details about their family members online.
The inferno ripped through the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of New Year's Day. Circulated video show the ceiling catching alight as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Authorities have warned that it could take an extended period to formally name the fatalities of the tragedy, which resulted in the death of 40 people and wounded another over a hundred. Officials said on Friday that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with the process still underway to name the remaining few.
In the waiting period, loved ones have been using online platforms to plead for clues about their friends who were at the bar that fateful night.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing
The location of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his family.
The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, informed a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the same in Bern, but was unsuccessful.
"This is a living nightmare, a nightmare. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. Words cannot describe it," she said.
She continued that some of his companions had been found with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they went through a terrifying ordeal."
The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed that a number of of its citizens remain missing.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now residing in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values."
His father, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Other Missing Individuals
Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise among the missing. His mother told reporters that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with friends and ended up at the bar.
"Someone with him informed me they fled after the fire erupted and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers said, "I've always been struck by his kindness and smile, alongside great maturity. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek nationality but lives permanently in the country, was also present on that night, according to sources.
Her sibling has published an appeal on social media, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.
Consular authorities from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the developments.
