The first four victims of a catastrophic fire at a Swiss ski resort bar have been formally identified, revealing the tragic loss of two teenagers among the dead.
The victims are two women, aged 16 and 21, and two men, aged 16 and 18. The fire broke out at the popular nightspot in the early hours of the morning, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit alpine community and the international visitors present.
Manslaughter Investigation Underway
As emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath, the owners of the bar now face the prospect of manslaughter charges. Swiss authorities have confirmed they are considering the serious charges as part of their investigation into the cause of the blaze and the safety protocols at the venue.
The owners, who had reportedly renovated the club themselves, have spoken out in the wake of the disaster. They have stated they are "very unwell" and can neither "sleep nor eat" following the incident. In their defence, they have insisted the bar was safe, contradicting early reports from officials who described it as a "deathtrap."
Community in Mourning and Heroic Rescues
The fire has plunged the glamorous ski resort into a state of profound grief. Families are pleading for information about missing loved ones, many of whom are children and young adults. It has been confirmed that a former pupil of a British school is among those still missing, with her former teachers stating she is "in our prayers."
Amidst the horror, stories of bravery have emerged. A hero banker is reported to have saved ten young people from the inferno after receiving a desperate phone call from his daughter, who was inside the burning building and pleading for help.
New footage from the scene has also revealed a chilling detail: lost seconds may have cost lives as some youngsters were filmed watching the flames spread across the ceiling instead of immediately fleeing. Officials have preliminarily stated that sparklers used inside the venue are believed to have started the fire.
A Wider Context of Tragedy
This devastating event in Switzerland coincides with other tragic incidents across Europe. In a separate and unrelated incident, a double tragedy unfolded on the Yorkshire coast where at least two people died while attempting to rescue a teenage girl swept into the freezing sea, with a major search for a third person continuing into the night.
Back in Switzerland, the identification of these first four victims marks a sombre milestone in a disaster that has claimed multiple lives. The community, along with international tourists and families, now awaits further news as the investigation continues and the full scale of the loss becomes clear.
