The aftermath of a tragic fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left families of missing teenagers in a state of anguish, anxiously seeking any information about their loved ones. According to Swiss authorities, the fire, which resulted in 40 deaths and left 119 injured, likely began when sparklers placed on champagne bottles ignited the ceiling. Officials have indicated that the investigation will scrutinize the materials used in the bar, its fire safety protocols, its occupancy, and the number of people present during the incident. As of now, it's anticipated that the identification of the victims may take several days or even weeks, complicating efforts to account for those affected. Currently, 113 of the injured have been identified, leaving six still under inquiry. Meanwhile, social media has become a vital tool for families and friends desperately seeking information.
Among the missing is 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard. His mother Laetitia expressed her deep distress, saying, "I must find my son... it's been 30 hours since [he] disappeared." She has been actively sharing his photo to potentially gather leads from the public. Despite checking hospitals in Lausanne and Bern, no trace of Arthur has been found. Earlier, she shared with local newspaper Le Temps that the situation was a "nightmare," with some of his friends severely injured.
Another missing individual is Italian national Achille Osvaldo Giovanni Barosi, also 16. Achille reportedly went into the bar early on New Year's Day for his jacket and phone and was not seen again. His aunt Francesca described him as a talented painter and shared the family's desperate hope for his safety.
Additionally, the Italian Golf Federation has confirmed the death of junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, 16, who was last heard from shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Emanuele’s father, Edoardo, mentioned that his son had been at the bar at the time of the fire, but an official confirmation of his death has yet to be provided.
Giovanni Tamburi, also 16, from Bologna, is another teen still unaccounted for. His mother Carla Masiello reported that Giovanni, who was on holiday with his father, was last seen at La Constellation bar. A friend mentioned attempting to escape the smoke and fire with Giovanni, who was wearing a distinctive necklace, but lost sight of him in the chaos. His teacher, Tania Causio, recalled his unmistakable kindness at school.
The family of Emilie Pralong, 22, also face an agonizing wait for news about her whereabouts amid an already overwhelmingly distressing situation.