A mother is frantically searching for her teenage son and his nine schoolmates who remain unaccounted for after a tragic fire incident during New Year celebrations in Switzerland.
Laetitia Brodard expressed her anguish over not hearing from her 16-year-old son, Arthur Brodard, since he went to Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana for New Year’s Eve. The fire, triggered by sparklers inside champagne bottles, has left 47 people feared dead and many others injured.
In an emotional plea on BFT TV news channel, Ms Brodard vowed to continue searching for her son, stating the agonizing wait was unbearable. She revealed that Arthur and his friends had planned to celebrate the New Year at the bar, but only one friend has been located so far.
Desperate for any information about her son, Ms Brodard disclosed that she had filed a missing person report and was trying to obtain videos and photos from the evening to piece together what happened.
Despite facing challenges in accessing information through the authorities’ dedicated hotline, she remained resolute in her search for answers. The devastating fire engulfed the bar’s basement, causing severe injuries to many attendees, making the identification process a lengthy one.
The tragic loss of 17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian golfer, has left the community in mourning. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the nation’s worst tragedies, cutting short the lives of numerous young individuals.
The incident has raised questions about safety measures and parental responsibility, with Ms Brodard defending the decision to allow teenagers aged 16 and above to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a ski resort where such festivities are common.
As the investigation continues and survivors recount harrowing experiences, the community remains in shock over the devastating impact of the fire tragedy.