Swiss police have confirmed that all 116 people injured in the New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have been identified, as the bodies of the first foreign victims were repatriated. The blaze killed 40 people, mostly young partygoers, and authorities revised the injured count down from 119 after three individuals were wrongly recorded.
The fire is believed to have started in the basement when sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling, which was reportedly clad with soundproofing foam. Among the injured were 68 Swiss citizens, 21 French, 10 Italians, four Serbs, four dual nationals, two Poles, and one person each from seven other countries. Eighty-three people remain in hospital with severe burns.
The deceased included 21 Swiss nationals, nine French citizens (two with dual nationality), six Italians, and one person each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey. Victims ranged from 14 to 39 years old, with 20 minors and an average age of 19. The bodies of five Italian victims were repatriated on Monday, with a sixth to be buried in Switzerland.
Pressure is mounting on authorities to explain how the fire occurred. The bar's owners, French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under investigation on suspicion of homicide by negligence but have not been arrested. Swiss and Italian officials have demanded answers, with Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini criticising safety failures at the venue.
The municipality of Crans-Montana has provided all relevant documents to investigators and joined proceedings as a civil party. A memorial ceremony is planned for Friday, with French President Emmanuel Macron expected to attend.
