🔗 Share this article

The relatives of young people missing after a tragic fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are confronting an excruciating wait for official news and pleading for any details about their family members publicly.

The blaze devastated the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of January 1st. Verified video depict the roof structure catching alight as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.

Officials have stated that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the fatalities of the fire, which claimed the lives of 40 people and hurt another over a hundred. A spokesperson stated on the latest update that 113 of the those hurt have been accounted for, with work still underway to locate the final individuals.

In the meantime, relatives have been using the internet to appeal for information about their missing relatives who were at the bar that night.

Appeals for the Unaccounted For

The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an appeal from his family.

The who lives of Lutry near the city, explained to a local newspaper that she had returned to Lausanne to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in the capital, but did not locate him.

"This is a living nightmare, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. It's horrific," she told the paper.

She added that some of his friends had been found with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they endured an absolute nightmare."

The Italy's government has indicated that six of its young people remain missing.

One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, who hailed from Genoa but now living in Dubai.

The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is dead, without directly referencing the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values."

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

Further Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His parent explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with friends and found himself at the bar.

"Someone with him said they ran away after the fire started and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he couldn't see him anymore," she said, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.

One of his teachers commented, "He was known for his kindness and smile, combined with great maturity. Often offer to get me a coffee."

Alice Kallergis, who holds both Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives full-time in the country, was also at the bar on that night, according to reports.

Her sibling has posted an appeal 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 unaccounted for.

Officials from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.