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The families of teenagers missing after a tragic blaze at a bar in a Switzerland's alpine town are confronting an excruciating wait for official news and appealing for information about their family members online.

The inferno engulfed the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort, located in the Alps of south-west Switzerland, in the middle of the night of New Year's Day. Circulated images show the ceiling igniting as beverages with sparklers are raised in celebration.

Emergency services have indicated that it could take days if not weeks to formally name the fatalities of the disaster, which resulted in the death of 40 people and wounded another over a hundred. A spokesperson said on the latest update that the majority of the those hurt have been accounted for, with efforts continuing to identify the other six.

In the waiting period, loved ones have been taking to the internet to appeal for clues about their friends who were in attendance that evening.

Heartbreaking Pleas for the Missing

The whereabouts of Swiss national Arthur Brodard, a teenager, are currently unknown, according to an appeal from his family.

The resident of Lutry near Lausanne, informed a publication that she had gone back to the city to see if he was in the hospital, while his other parent did the equivalent search in Bern, but was unsuccessful.

"I'm living a nightmare, a nightmare. The options are finding my son in the morgue, or I find him in intensive care. It's terrible," she stated.

She explained that some of his friends had been found with injuries covering nearly half their bodies. "There are no words; they went through hell."

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

One of those is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old sportsman, who hailed from Italy but now residing in Dubai.

The Italian Golf Federation has said that he is no longer with us, without directly referencing the tragedy, paying tribute to a "young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values."

His father, reportedly stated that his son was at the bar and was last in contact around midnight. An official spokesperson has stated that a formal confirmation of his death is still pending.

Other Cases

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

"A close friend informed me they escaped 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 said, adding he had been wearing a distinctive gold chain.

One of his teachers commented, "I've always been struck by his kindness and smile, combined with great responsibility. Often offer to help out."

Alice Kallergis, who holds both Swiss and Greek citizenship but lives full-time in Switzerland, was also present on that night, according to media.

Her sibling has posted an urgent request online, saying the family has had "no news" regarding the 15-year-old or the three friends she was with, who are also unaccounted for.

Consular authorities from her other nation say they are continuing to monitor the situation.