The relatives of teenagers lost after a deadly blaze at a bar in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an painful period of uncertainty for answers and appealing for clues about their children via social media.
The fire engulfed the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the early hours of January 1st. Confirmed footage show the ceiling being engulfed in flames as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.
Authorities have warned that it could take an extended period to identify the victims of the disaster, which claimed the lives of four dozen individuals and wounded another over a hundred. Authorities said on Friday that the majority of the those hurt have been identified, with the process still underway to identify the final individuals.
In the waiting period, relatives have been using social media to request information about their friends who were at the bar that night.
Desperate Searches for the Missing
The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are currently unknown, according to an heartfelt request from his family.
The resident of Lutry near the city, 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 could not find him.
"It feels like a terrible dream, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in a serious state. Words cannot describe it," she told the paper.
She continued that some of his companions had been located with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they endured an absolute nightmare."
The Italy's government has said that a number of of its citizens remain missing.
Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, who hailed from Genoa but now living in the UAE.
The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is dead, without mentioning the fire, honoring a "talented young man who embodied dedication and authentic values."
His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is not yet.
Further Cases
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also unaccounted for. His mother explained that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with friends and ended up at the venue.
"A close friend informed me they escaped after the fire erupted and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he they were separated," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.
One of his educators stated, "I've always been struck by his good nature and positive demeanor, combined with great responsibility. Often ask if help out."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in the country, was also present on that night, according to sources.
Her sibling has shared an urgent request online, saying the relatives has had "no updates" regarding the teenager or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are actively engaged with the developments.
