'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Unaccounted For Teenagers Await News After Ski Resort Inferno

Unaccounted teen portrait
Teenage Swiss national a young man from Switzerland is one of those unaccounted for.

The families of teens unaccounted for after a devastating blaze at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are facing an agonising period of uncertainty for answers and appealing for any details about their family members online.

The fire ripped through the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the small hours of New Year's Day. Confirmed images show the roof structure being engulfed in flames as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.

Emergency services have warned that it could take considerable time to formally name the victims of the fire, which claimed the lives of four dozen individuals and injured another 119. Authorities noted on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been accounted for, with efforts still underway to identify the other six.

In the interim, loved ones have been taking to online platforms to plead for information about their friends who were at the bar that night.

Desperate Searches for the Missing

The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are not yet determined, according to an appeal from his parent.

The who lives 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 other parent did the equivalent search in the capital, but was unsuccessful.

"It feels like a terrible dream, a nightmare. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she told the paper.

She explained that some of his companions had been discovered with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's indescribable; they experienced an absolute nightmare."

The Italian government has confirmed that six of its young people remain missing.

Missing teen photo
Teenage sportsman Emanuele Galeppini, sixteen, was last in contact around midnight on New Year's Eve, his father said.

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

The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is deceased, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who represented dedication and authentic values."

His father, told media 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.

Further Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, 16, 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 informed me they escaped after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.

One of his educators said, "I remember his kindness and smile, coupled with great responsibility. Every time ask if help out."

Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to media.

Her sibling has shared an urgent request on social media, saying the family has had "no news" regarding the teenager or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.

Consular authorities from her country of origin say they are continuing to monitor the case.

Kimberly Patterson
Kimberly Patterson

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