'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Families of Unaccounted For Teens Desperately Seek News After Alpine Inferno
The families of teens unaccounted for after a devastating blaze at a bar in a Switzerland's alpine town are facing an excruciating wait for official news and requesting information about their family members via social media.
The inferno engulfed the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of the first day of the year. Circulated images reveal the ceiling catching alight as bottles with fireworks are held aloft.
Authorities have stated that it could take an extended period to identify the fatalities of the tragedy, which resulted in the death of four dozen individuals and injured another over a hundred. Officials stated on the latest update that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with efforts still underway to identify the final individuals.
In the meantime, loved ones have been taking to online platforms to plead for any news about their friends who were at the bar that evening.
Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For
The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, 16, are still unconfirmed, according to an heartfelt request from his mother.
The who lives of a town near the city, informed a publication that she had returned to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the same in the capital, but could not find him.
"I'm living a nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in a serious state. It's terrible," she said.
She explained that some of his peers had been located with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they went through hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that a number of of its citizens have not been located.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage sportsman, originally from Genoa but now residing in Dubai.
The national sporting body has released a tribute that he is deceased, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied dedication and authentic values."
His parent, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around the new year. An official spokesperson has indicated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise among the missing. His parent explained that he had been on vacation but had gone out with friends and found himself at the venue.
"Someone with him informed me they ran away after the fire erupted and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers commented, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great maturity. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to media.
Her brother has shared an appeal on social media, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her country of origin say they are continuing to monitor the developments.