The families of teenagers unaccounted for after a tragic fire at a venue in a Swiss ski resort are facing an excruciating period of uncertainty for answers and pleading for clues about their family members publicly.
The fire devastated the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Circulated images reveal the roof structure catching alight as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.
Officials have warned that it could take an extended period to identify the fatalities of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of numerous partygoers and hurt another scores more. Officials said on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with efforts ongoing to locate the other six.
In the waiting period, relatives have been using the internet to plead for information about their missing relatives who were in attendance that fateful night.
The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his parent.
The who lives of Lutry near the city, informed a publication that she had returned to the city to see if he was in the medical facility, while his father did the equivalent search in Bern, but did not locate him.
"I'm living a nightmare, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. It's terrible," she stated.
She added that some of his peers had been discovered with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they endured an absolute nightmare."
The Italian government has said that a number of of its young people are still unaccounted for.
Among them is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now living in Dubai.
The Italian Golf Federation has stated that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values."
His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a official announcement of his death is awaited.
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also unaccounted for. His mother explained that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the venue.
"A close friend told me they fled after the fire erupted and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she explained, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.
One of his educators said, "I remember his kindness and positive demeanor, alongside great responsibility. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."
Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek nationality but lives full-time in the country, was also at the bar on New Year's Eve, according to media.
Her brother has posted an urgent request on social media, saying the relatives has had "no news" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.
Officials from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the case.
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