Swiss authorities have begun to officially name the victims of a devastating fire at a popular ski resort bar, as the death toll is feared to have reached around 40 people. The blaze, which also left 119 injured, tore through the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day.
First Official Victims Confirmed
This morning, police in the Valais canton confirmed the identities of four Swiss nationals who perished in the disaster. The victims are two women, aged 21 and 16, and two men, aged 18 and 16. Their bodies have been returned to their families as forensic teams continue the painstaking work of identifying further victims.
These confirmations follow the earlier reported death of Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old Italian golfer. The Italian Golf Federation paid tribute to the "young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values." The teenager, who lived in Dubai, was holidaying with his family and was at the bar with friends to celebrate the new year.
Families' Desperate Search for the Missing
As the official list grows, frantic families continue to appeal for information about loved ones still missing. Among them is Charlotte Niddam, 15, a former pupil of Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Her school said it was "praying for a miracle" after her family lost contact with her.
The mother of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard gave an emotional interview, stating she had searched local hospitals for over 30 hours without news. "My son is alone in a hospital, if he’s alive. Even if he’s in a morgue... I can’t be by his side," she told media.
Other missing young people include sisters Alicia and Diana Gonset (15 and 14), Greek-Swiss resident Alice Kallergis, 15, French national Emilie Pralong, 22, Italian Giovanni Tamburi, 16, and Macedonian national Stiven Ivanovski.
Cause of the Blaze and Scale of the Injury Toll
The fire broke out at around 1:30am on Thursday, 1st January. Witnesses and footage suggest it was sparked by sparklers mounted on champagne bottles, causing flames to spread rapidly across the ceiling. Patrons were forced to smash windows to escape the inferno.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, 119 people were injured, with many in critical condition. The injured hailed from across Europe, including 71 from Switzerland, 14 from France, 11 from Italy, and citizens from Serbia, Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Poland.
An investigation into the exact cause and circumstances of the fire is ongoing, as the international community mourns one of the worst tragedies to hit a European ski resort in recent years.
