'Living a Nightmare': Families of Unaccounted For Teenagers Await News After Ski Resort Fire

Unaccounted teen portrait
16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard is one of those unaccounted for.

The families of teens unaccounted for after a deadly inferno at a bar in a Swiss alpine town are facing an painful period of uncertainty for answers and pleading for information about their family members publicly.

The fire ripped through the Le Constellation bar in Cans-Montana, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of the first day of the year. Verified video show the ceiling igniting as beverages with fireworks are raised in celebration.

Emergency services have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to identify the those who perished of the fire, which claimed the lives of 40 people and wounded another scores more. A spokesperson said on the latest update that the majority of the those hurt have been identified, with work continuing to identify the other six.

In the meantime, loved ones have been posting on social media to request any news about their friends who were in attendance that fateful night.

Appeals for the Unaccounted For

The fate of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are still unconfirmed, according to an appeal from his parent.

The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, told a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to check whether he was in the medical facility, while his other parent did the same in Bern, but did not locate him.

"It feels like a terrible dream, a horror. Either I find my son in the hospital mortuary, or I find him in intensive care. Words cannot describe it," she stated.

She explained that some of his friends had been located with burns covering nearly half their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced a terrifying ordeal."

The Italian government has indicated that a number of of its young people have not been located.

Missing teen portrait
Teenage sportsman Emanuele Galeppini, 16, was last in contact around midnight on New Year's Eve, his father said.

One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a teenage promising athlete, originally from Italy but now living in Dubai.

The national sporting body has said that he is dead, without directly referencing the fire, honoring a "talented young man who carried with him dedication and true sportsmanship."

His parent, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last heard from around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is not yet.

Other Missing Individuals

Giovanni Tamburi, sixteen, is also 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.

"A companion said they escaped after the fire broke out and that he had his phone with him, but then at a certain point he couldn't see him anymore," she said, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.

One of his teachers commented, "I remember his good nature and positive demeanor, alongside great responsibility. He would frequently offer to help out."

Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss citizenship but lives permanently in the country, was also present on New Year's Eve, according to reports.

Her sibling has published an urgent request online, saying the family has had "no updates" regarding the 15-year-old or the group she was with, who are also unaccounted for.

Officials from her country of origin say they are closely watching the developments.

Rebecca Leblanc
Rebecca Leblanc

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and market analysis.