🔗 Share this article

The families of teenagers missing after a tragic fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are facing an painful period of uncertainty for official news and pleading for clues about their loved ones online.

The fire devastated the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of the first day of the year. Verified footage show the roof structure being engulfed in flames as beverages with fireworks are held aloft.

Officials have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the victims of the disaster, which killed numerous partygoers and wounded another 119. Authorities stated on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been accounted for, with the process ongoing to name the final individuals.

In the interim, relatives have been posting on the internet to plead for clues about their missing relatives who were in attendance that night.

Appeals for the Unaccounted For

The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his family.

The resident of a town near Lausanne, explained to a publication that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his father did the equivalent search in Bern, but could not find him.

"This is a living nightmare, a horror. Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in a serious state. Words cannot describe it," she said.

She added that some of his peers had been located with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they endured a terrifying ordeal."

The Italian government has said that six of its nationals have not been located.

Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old promising athlete, who hailed from Genoa but now residing in the UAE.

The national sporting body has said that he is dead, without directly referencing the fire, honoring a "young athlete who embodied passion and true sportsmanship."

His father, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An representative has indicated that a formal confirmation of his death is not yet.

Other Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also among the missing. His mother explained that he had been on vacation but had gone out with a group and ended up at the bar.

"A close friend said they escaped after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he lost sight of him," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.

One of his educators commented, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great responsibility. He would frequently ask if help out."

Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss nationality but lives permanently in the country, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to media.

Her sibling has published 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 other nation say they are continuing to monitor the case.