Families are enduring an agonising wait for news as six people injured in a catastrophic fire at a Swiss bar remain unidentified. The blaze, which tore through the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day, has become one of Switzerland's worst tragedies, claiming 40 lives and injuring 119 others.
The Unbearable Search for Missing Loved Ones
For relatives like Laetitia Brodard from Lausanne, the uncertainty is torturous. Her 16-year-old son, Arthur, went to the bar with friends to celebrate and is now missing. "I'm looking everywhere. The body of my son is somewhere," she told reporters. "I want to know, where is my child, and be by his side. Wherever that may be, be it in the intensive care unit or the morgue." The six unidentified injured individuals offer a fragile glimmer of hope for families whose loved ones are unaccounted for.
Authorities have confirmed that 113 of the injured have been formally identified. However, the severity of burns sustained in the fire and the fact that wallets and ID documents were often destroyed have made the process intensely difficult. Officials are now relying on DNA samples supplied by families to put names to the victims.
Cause and Chaos: A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
Investigators believe the fatal fire was ignited by sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles, which were brought too close to the bar's ceiling around two hours after midnight. The venue was packed with New Year's Eve revellers, many of whom were teenagers and young adults in their mid-20s.
Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of sheer chaos and horror. Marc-Antoine Chavanon, 14, described rushing to help, stating, "We were bringing people out, people were collapsing... There was one of our friends: She was struggling to get out, she was all burned. You can't imagine the pain I saw."
Regional officials have acknowledged the profound distress caused by the slow identification process. Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais region's attorney general, said the priority was "truly placed on identification, in order to allow the families to begin their mourning." Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government, spoke of the "unbearable side of every minute that passes without answers."
International Victims and Ongoing Investigations
The tragedy has had a wide international impact. Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, and 11 Italians, alongside citizens from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. The nationalities of 14 people are still unclear.
Among the missing is Emanuele Galeppini, a promising teenage Italian golfer who competed internationally. His family awaits DNA results, though the Italian Golf Federation has already announced his death on its website.
Authorities have launched a full investigation, examining whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling met regulations, if the candles were permitted, and checking other safety measures like fire extinguishers and escape routes. The region's top prosecutor has warned of possible prosecutions if criminal liability is found.
