'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Missing Teens Desperately Seek News After Ski Resort Inferno
The relatives of teens missing after a devastating blaze at a venue in a Swiss ski resort are confronting an painful period of uncertainty for official news and pleading for any details about their loved ones online.
The fire engulfed the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of the Valais region, in the middle of the night of New Year's Day. Confirmed images reveal the ceiling catching alight as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.
Emergency services have warned that it could take considerable time to identify the fatalities of the tragedy, which killed numerous partygoers and wounded another 119. Authorities said on the latest update that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with work continuing to locate the other six.
In the meantime, relatives have been taking to the internet to appeal for information about their missing relatives who were at the bar that evening.
Heartbreaking Pleas for the Unaccounted For
The location of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an public plea from his parent.
The resident of Lutry near the city, informed a publication that she had gone back to Lausanne to see if he was in the hospital, while his father did the equivalent search in the capital, but could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. Words cannot describe it," she told the paper.
She explained that some of his peers had been found with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they endured hell."
The Italian foreign ministry has indicated that a number of of its young people remain missing.
One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, originally from Genoa but now residing in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is dead, without mentioning the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who represented passion and true sportsmanship."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around the new year. An official spokesperson has clarified that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.
Additional Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also unaccounted for. His parent 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 ran away after the fire erupted and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she explained, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.
One of his teachers commented, "I've always been struck by his good nature and smile, coupled with great responsibility. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives full-time in the country, was also at the bar on that night, according to media.
Her brother has posted an appeal online, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her country of origin say they are actively engaged with the case.