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Families of missing teenagers await news after deadly Swiss bar fire
Relatives of young people unaccounted for following a New Year's Eve blaze in Crans-Montana have taken to social media, desperate for any information about their loved ones. Swiss authorities say identifying victims may take weeks.
Cause of the fire
Investigators believe the fire at the La Constellation bar was sparked by sparklers placed on champagne bottles that ignited the ceiling. Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud stated the inquiry will examine the bar's construction materials, fire safety protocols, occupancy limits, and the number of people inside at the time.
Casualties and identification efforts
The fire claimed 40 lives and injured 119 others. Authorities have identified 113 of the injured but are still working to confirm the identities of six more victims. Officials warned that the process could take days or even weeks.
Families search for answers
Among the missing is 15-year-old Charlotte Niddam, a former student at Jewish schools in the UK. The Jewish Free School in London described her as deeply loved, while Immanuel College in Hertfordshire shared her family's plea for prayers. Crans-Montana's tourism website lists her as a holiday babysitter in the resort.
Laetitia Brodard, mother of 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard, told the BBC she had searched hospitals in Lausanne and Bern without success. "I must find my son," she said, urging the public to share his photo. She described friends of Arthur who suffered severe burns as having "gone through hell."
Italian and Greek nationals among the missing
Six Italian citizens remain unaccounted for, including 16-year-old Achille Osvaldo Giovanni Barosi, who entered the bar at 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day to retrieve his jacket and phone. His aunt Francesca told the BBC they had no news of his whereabouts.
The Italian Golf Federation announced the death of 16-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, a junior golfer from Genoa now living in Dubai, though the foreign ministry has not confirmed it. Galeppini's father told Italian media his son was last heard from around midnight.
Giovanni Tamburi, 16, from Bologna, was on holiday with his father but went out with friends. His mother, Carla Masiello, said a friend reported seeing him flee the fire but later lost track of him. Tamburi was wearing a gold chain with a small Madonna pendant.
Emilie Pralong, 22, is also missing, with her grandfather telling BFMTV they remain hopeful but braced for the worst. "We must be realistic in the face of a tragedy like this," he said.
Alice Kallergis, 15, a dual Greek-Swiss national living in Switzerland, was at the bar with three friends, all of whom are missing. Her brother posted an appeal on Instagram, saying the family had received no updates.
Consular assistance
The Italian foreign ministry is monitoring the situation, while Greek consular authorities are closely following developments. Families continue to share appeals online, hoping for any lead on their missing children.
