Families of teens missing after Swiss ski-resort bar fire plead for news

Families of teenagers missing after a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort have appealed online for information as they wait for news of loved ones. Swiss officials say the blaze was likely caused by sparklers placed on champagne bottles that came "too close to the ceiling." The Valais attorney general said investigators will focus on materials used at the site, the bar's fire safety measures, its capacity and the number of people inside.

Authorities said 40 people were killed and 119 injured. They have identified 113 of the injured, with six still to be identified, and warned it could take days or weeks to identify the victims. Among those reported missing is 16-year-old Arthur Brodard. His mother, Laetitia, told the BBC: "I must find my son...

it's been 30 hours since [he] disappeared." She said she and the boy's father had checked hospitals in Lausanne and Bern and described the situation as "living a nightmare." Also missing is 16-year-old Italian national Achille Osvaldo Giovanni Barosi, who family members say went into the bar at 01:30 on New Year's Day to retrieve a jacket and phone.

His aunt said, "We don't know if he's still alive," and described him as an excellent painter. The Italian foreign ministry said six of its citizens remain missing.

Key Topics

World, United States, Switzerland, Ski Resort, Fire, Missing Teens, Investigation