🔗 Share this article

The families of teenagers missing after a tragic blaze at a bar in a Swiss alpine town are enduring an agonising wait for official news and appealing for information about their children publicly.

The inferno ripped through the a popular bar in Cans-Montana, located in the mountains of the Valais region, in the small hours of January 1st. Confirmed images reveal the roof structure igniting as beverages with fireworks are held aloft.

Emergency services have indicated that it could take an extended period to identify the victims of the disaster, which killed numerous partygoers and injured another scores more. Authorities said on Friday that 113 of the those hurt have been identified, with the process continuing to identify the other six.

In the interim, loved ones have been taking to online platforms to request clues about their missing relatives who were in attendance that night.

Desperate Searches for the Unaccounted For

The location of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, sixteen, are not yet determined, according to an appeal from his parent.

The resident of a town near Lausanne, explained to a local newspaper that she had gone back to Lausanne to see if he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in Bern, but was unsuccessful.

"This is a living nightmare, a horror. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. Words cannot describe it," she told the paper.

She continued that some of his peers had been located with burns covering a significant portion of their bodies. "It's unspeakable; they experienced an absolute nightmare."

The Italian foreign ministry has said that six of its citizens remain missing.

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

The Italian Golf Federation has released a tribute that he is dead, without mentioning the tragedy, honoring a "young athlete who carried with him passion and true sportsmanship."

His father, told media that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An representative has clarified that a official announcement of his death is awaited.

Other Missing Individuals

Giovanni Tamburi, 16, is also unaccounted for. His parent explained that he had been on vacation but had ventured out with a group and found himself at the venue.

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

One of his educators commented, "I've always been struck by his kindness and positive demeanor, coupled with great maturity. Every time ask if 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 urgent request on social media, saying the family has had "no information" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.

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