'Trapped in a Dreadful Dream': Families of Unaccounted For Teens Desperately Seek News After Alpine Blaze

Unaccounted teen portrait
16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard is among the missing.

The loved ones of young people lost after a tragic blaze at a bar in a Swiss winter destination are facing an painful wait for official news and pleading for clues about their loved ones via social media.

The inferno devastated the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the mountains of south-west Switzerland, in the early hours of the first day of the year. Confirmed footage show the roof structure being engulfed in flames as beverages with sparklers are held aloft.

Authorities have stated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the victims of the fire, which killed numerous partygoers and hurt another over a hundred. A spokesperson noted on Friday that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with the process still underway to identify the remaining few.

In the waiting period, relatives have been posting on online platforms to request information about their missing relatives who were in attendance that fateful night.

Heartbreaking Pleas for the Unaccounted For

The location of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, 16, are currently unknown, according to an appeal from his mother.

The who lives of a town near Lausanne, explained to a publication that she had gone back to the city to check whether he was in the hospital, while his father did the equivalent search in Bern, but did not locate him.

"This is a living nightmare, a horror. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. It's terrible," she said.

She explained that some of his friends had been found with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they went through a terrifying ordeal."

The Italian government has indicated that six of its citizens remain missing.

Missing teen photo
Young athlete Emanuele Galeppini, 16, was last in contact around the turn of the new year on December 31st, his father said.

Included in that group is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, who hailed from Genoa but now residing in Dubai.

The national sporting body has stated that he is deceased, without directly referencing the fire, paying tribute to a "talented young man who represented dedication and true sportsmanship."

His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around midnight. An representative has stated that a official announcement of his death is still pending.

Additional Cases

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

"A close friend told me they escaped after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a specific moment he lost sight of him," she said, adding he had been wearing a identifiable piece of jewelry.

One of his educators said, "I remember his kindness and positive demeanor, combined with great maturity. Often offer to get me a coffee."

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

Her brother has shared an appeal online, saying the family has had "no updates" 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 actively engaged with the developments.

Wendy Reynolds
Wendy Reynolds

A passionate interior designer with over a decade of experience specializing in retro and vintage home styling, sharing insights and creative ideas.