'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Loved Ones of Missing Teens Desperately Seek Answers After Ski Resort Fire

Unaccounted teen photo
Teenage Swiss national Arthur Brodard is among the missing.

The loved ones of teenagers lost after a tragic fire at a bar in a Switzerland's ski resort are facing an agonising wait for answers and appealing for clues about their family members publicly.

The blaze ripped through the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Swiss Alps of the Valais region, in the middle of the night of New Year's Day. Verified video reveal the ceiling igniting as bottles with sparklers are raised in celebration.

Authorities have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the victims of the tragedy, which killed 40 people and wounded another scores more. Officials said on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with the process still underway to locate the other six.

In the interim, relatives have been posting on online platforms to appeal for any news about their loved ones who were present at the venue that fateful night.

Desperate Searches for the Missing

The location of teenager from Switzerland Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an appeal from his family.

The resident of Lutry near the city, informed a publication that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his father did the same in the capital, but could not find him.

"It feels like a terrible dream, an ordeal. The options are finding my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she said.

She continued that some of his companions had been located with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "It's indescribable; they experienced hell."

The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed that six of its nationals have not been located.

Unaccounted teen photo
Junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, 16, was last in contact around midnight on December 31st, his father said.

Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage junior golfer, originally from Genoa but now living in Dubai.

The national sporting body has stated that he is deceased, without mentioning the tragedy, paying tribute to a "talented young man who embodied 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 official spokesperson has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is not yet.

Further Missing Individuals

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also unaccounted for. His parent told reporters that he had been on holiday but had ventured out with a group 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 lost sight of him," she said, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.

One of his teachers commented, "He was known for his good nature and positive demeanor, alongside great maturity. He would frequently offer to get me a coffee."

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

Her brother has shared an appeal 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.

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

Gregory Mercado
Gregory Mercado

An avid skier and travel writer with over a decade of experience exploring Italian slopes and sharing insights on winter sports.