'Living a Nightmare': Loved Ones of Unaccounted For Teenagers Await Answers After Ski Resort Fire

Unaccounted teen portrait
Teenage Swiss teenager Arthur Brodard is one of those unaccounted for.

The relatives of young people unaccounted for after a devastating fire at a venue in a Swiss winter destination are facing an painful wait for confirmed information and requesting clues about their family members publicly.

The blaze ripped through the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of the Valais region, in the small hours of January 1st. Confirmed images reveal the ceiling catching alight as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.

Authorities have warned that it could take days if not weeks to identify the victims of the tragedy, which resulted in the death of 40 people and hurt another over a hundred. Officials said on Friday that the majority of the injured have been accounted for, with work continuing to name the other six.

In the meantime, relatives have been taking to online platforms to appeal for information about their missing relatives who were in attendance that night.

Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For

The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an public plea from his mother.

The who lives of a town near Lausanne, explained to a publication that she had returned to the city to see if he was in the hospital, while his father did the same in Bern, but was unsuccessful.

"I'm living a nightmare, a horror. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in critical condition. It's horrific," she stated.

She added that some of his companions had been located with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they went through an absolute nightmare."

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

Unaccounted teen photo
Teenage sportsman Emanuele Galeppini, sixteen, was last heard from around midnight on December 31st, as stated by.

One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, who hailed from Italy but now residing in the UAE.

The national sporting body has stated that he is dead, without directly referencing the tragedy, honoring a "talented young man who represented dedication and true sportsmanship."

His parent, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An representative has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is awaited.

Other Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is likewise unaccounted for. His mother told reporters that he had been on holiday but had gone out with a group and found himself at the bar.

"A companion told me they ran away after the fire started and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he they were separated," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.

One of his teachers stated, "I've always been struck by his kindness and positive demeanor, coupled with great responsibility. Often offer to get me a coffee."

Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on that night, according to sources.

Her brother has posted an urgent request 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 continuing to monitor the case.

Nicole Navarro
Nicole Navarro

Interior design enthusiast with a passion for minimalist aesthetics and sustainable home solutions.