'Enduring a Horrific Ordeal': Loved Ones of Missing Teens Await News After Alpine Blaze

Unaccounted teen portrait
16-year-old Swiss national a young man from Switzerland is one of those unaccounted for.

The loved ones of teens lost after a tragic fire at a establishment in a Switzerland's ski resort are confronting an painful wait for confirmed information and appealing for information about their children publicly.

The inferno engulfed the a popular bar in the alpine resort, located in the Swiss Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of the first day of the year. Confirmed footage depict the ceiling being engulfed in flames as bottles with fireworks are raised in celebration.

Officials have warned that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the those who perished of the fire, which killed 40 people and wounded another 119. Officials said on the latest update that the majority of the injured have been accounted for, with efforts still underway to name the other six.

In the meantime, families and friends have been taking to the internet to appeal for information about their missing relatives who were in attendance that night.

Appeals for the Missing

The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are not yet determined, according to an appeal from his mother.

The who lives of a town near the city, explained to a publication that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in the capital, but could not find him.

"I'm living a nightmare, an ordeal. The options are finding 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 nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they experienced hell."

The Italy's government has confirmed that a number of of its nationals remain missing.

Missing teen photo
Teenage sportsman Emanuele Galeppini, 16, was last heard from around the turn of the new year on December 31st, according to.

Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer, originally from Genoa but now residing in the UAE.

The national sporting body has said that he is dead, without directly referencing the tragedy, paying tribute to a "talented young man who represented passion and true sportsmanship."

His parent, told media that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a official announcement of his death is awaited.

Further Cases

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also among the missing. His mother told reporters that he had been on vacation but had gone out with a group and found himself at the venue.

"A companion informed me they fled after the fire broke out and that he had his mobile with him, but then at a specific moment he couldn't see him anymore," she recounted, adding he had been wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry.

One of his teachers stated, "He was known for his kindness and smile, alongside great maturity. He would frequently offer to help out."

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

Her brother has posted an urgent request online, saying the relatives has had "no information" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also reported missing.

Officials from her country of origin say they are continuing to monitor the situation.

Emily Terrell
Emily Terrell

Financial analyst with over a decade of experience in investment management and wealth advisory, specializing in market trends.