Swiss ski resort fire: Families of missing teens desperate for news

‘Living a nightmare’: Families of teens missing after ski resort fire desperate for news. The devastating fire that ripped through a popular bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve has plunged numerous families into a torturous limbo, with dozens of teenagers still unaccounted for. As the grim reality of the blaze sets in, parents and loved ones are launching desperate appeals online and through the media, clinging to any shred of information that might shed light on the fate of their missing children. The inferno, which claimed the lives of 40 people and injured 119, has left a trail of unanswered questions and profound anguish, particularly for those whose children were at the "Le Constellation" bar during the fateful celebration.

Swiss officials revealed on Friday that the fire was likely ignited by sparklers placed on champagne bottles that came "too close to the ceiling," a tragic oversight with catastrophic consequences. An intensive investigation is now underway, spearheaded by Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud, which will meticulously examine the materials used at the venue, the bar’s fire safety protocols, its occupancy limits, and the exact number of individuals present at the time of the incident. The process of identifying the victims is proving to be a painstaking and emotionally taxing ordeal, with authorities indicating it could take days, if not weeks, to definitively identify all those lost in the blaze. While 113 of the injured have been identified, six remain in this uncertain state, compounding the anxiety for families already awaiting news.

In the face of official slowness, families and friends have turned to the potent reach of social media, posting photographs and heartfelt pleas for information about their missing loved ones. These digital missives are a stark testament to the raw grief and desperate hope that permeates the aftermath of the tragedy.

Among those feared missing is 15-year-old Charlotte Niddam, a former student at schools in the United Kingdom. The Jewish Free School in north-west London, where Charlotte was a student for two years before her family relocated to France, issued a call for "love and prayers," emphasizing how deeply she is cherished within their community. Immanuel College, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, echoed these sentiments, reporting that Charlotte’s family has requested that the community keep them in their thoughts and prayers during this "extremely difficult time," and expressing a collective prayer for a "miracle for Charlotte and the others." Crans-Montana’s tourism website lists Charlotte as a babysitter in the resort during school holidays, a detail that underscores her connection to the Alpine community.

The whereabouts of 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard remain unknown, a fact that has plunged his mother, Laetitia, into a state of profound distress. "I must find my son… it’s been 30 hours since [he] disappeared," she told the BBC, her voice trembling with desperation. She implored for his photograph to be widely circulated, hoping that a glimpse of him might trigger a call from someone who has seen him. Ms. Brodard revealed that she and Arthur’s father had been tirelessly checking hospitals in Lausanne and Bern, a fruitless search that has amplified her agony. Earlier, she had confided to local newspaper Le Temps that she was "living a nightmare," recounting how some of Arthur’s friends had suffered severe burns covering nearly half their bodies, a harrowing testament to the hell they endured.

Another missing Italian national is 16-year-old Achille Osvaldo Giovanni Barosi. He reportedly entered the bar at 01:30 local time on New Year’s Day to retrieve his jacket and phone, and his family has had no contact with him since. "We don’t know if he’s still alive," his aunt, Francesca, told the BBC World Service’s OS programme, her voice heavy with dread. She described her nephew, an art school student in Milan, as a "beautiful boy and an excellent painter," their sole desire being to find him. The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed that six of its citizens remain unaccounted for.

Among these six is 16-year-old junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, originally from Genoa but residing in Dubai. The Italian Golf Federation has announced his death, though without explicitly linking it to the fire, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values." His father, Edoardo, was quoted by Italian TV channel TG24 stating that his son was at the bar and his last communication was around midnight. However, an Italian foreign ministry spokesperson clarified to the BBC that his death had not yet been officially confirmed.

Giovanni Tamburi, also 16, is another Italian teenager missing from the tragedy. His mother, Carla Masiello, from Bologna, told La Repubblica that Giovanni had been on holiday with his father but had gone out with friends and ended up at La Constellation. "A close friend of his told me they ran away 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 recounted, adding that he had been wearing a gold chain with a small Madonna around his neck. Tania Causio, one of his teachers at Porta Saragozza High School, spoke of Giovanni’s remarkable kindness and maturity, recalling how he would often offer to get her coffee.

Emilie Pralong, 22, is also reported missing by her family. She is believed to have been at Le Constellation with several friends, some of whom may also be unaccounted for. Her grandfather, Pierre, described their wait for information as "agonising," telling French broadcaster BFMTV, "We always hope – we are full of hope. It helps to overcome whatever the hardship." While expressing a hopeful possibility of her being found in hospital, he cautioned against unrealistic dreams, emphasizing the need to be "realistic in the face of a tragedy like this."

Alice Kallergis, who holds dual Greek and Swiss nationality and lives permanently in Switzerland, was also at the bar on New Year’s Eve, according to sources and reports in Greek media. Her brother has posted an appeal on Instagram, stating that the family has received "no news" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also reportedly missing. Greek consular authorities are actively monitoring the situation.

The collective anguish of these families underscores the devastating human cost of this horrific fire. As the investigation progresses, their hearts remain heavy with a desperate yearning for answers, each passing hour amplifying their "nightmare" and their plea for a miracle.