'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Relatives of Unaccounted For Teenagers Await Answers After Alpine Inferno

Missing teen portrait
Teenage Swiss national Arthur Brodard is listed as missing.

The loved ones of teenagers missing after a tragic fire at a bar in a Swiss winter destination are confronting an painful wait for confirmed information and pleading for any details about their children online.

The inferno devastated the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Confirmed images depict the roof structure catching alight as bottles with sparklers are held aloft.

Officials have indicated that it could take considerable time to identify the fatalities of the disaster, which resulted in the death of four dozen individuals and wounded another 119. A spokesperson said on the latest update that 113 of the those hurt have been accounted for, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining few.

In the interim, relatives have been using the internet to request information about their missing relatives who were in attendance that night.

Appeals for the Unaccounted For

The whereabouts of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are not yet determined, according to an heartfelt request from his family.

The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, explained to a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to see if he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but could not find him.

"This is a living nightmare, a horror. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. It's terrible," she told the paper.

She continued that some of his companions had been discovered with injuries covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced hell."

The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed that a number of of its young people remain missing.

Unaccounted teen portrait
Junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, 16, was last in contact around the turn of the new year on New Year's Eve, his father said.

One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old promising athlete, who hailed from Genoa but now residing in Dubai.

The national sporting body has stated that he is deceased, without mentioning the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who embodied dedication and true sportsmanship."

His father, is quoted as saying that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has indicated that a official announcement of his death is awaited.

Additional Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is likewise unaccounted for. His mother told reporters that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and ended up at the bar.

"Someone with him said they escaped after the fire erupted and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she said, adding he had been wearing a identifiable gold chain.

One of his educators commented, "I remember his good nature and smile, alongside great responsibility. Often offer to get me a coffee."

Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Swiss and Greek nationality but lives permanently in Switzerland, was also present on that night, according to sources.

Her brother 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 developments.

Melissa Casey
Melissa Casey

Mira is a seasoned gaming strategist and content creator, passionate about helping players maximize their in-game performance and achievements.