Investigators in Switzerland have identified 24 of the 40 people killed in the catastrophic New Year's Eve bar fire in the upmarket resort of Crans-Montana. Among the dead are children as young as 14 and 15, police confirmed on Sunday.
Victims of the Tragedy
Valais cantonal police announced they had managed to identify 16 more bodies from the blaze, one of the worst disasters in recent Swiss history. The youngest victim identified so far is a 14-year-old Swiss girl. Two 15-year-old Swiss girls were also among the deceased.
Ten of the other bodies identified on Sunday were teenagers aged between 16 and 18. Police had earlier confirmed the identities of two Swiss women, aged 24 and 22, and two Swiss men, aged 21 and 18.
The mother of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard confirmed her son was among the victims. "Our Arthur has departed to party in heaven," Laetitia Brodard-Sitre wrote on social media. "Now we can start our mourning, knowing he is in peace."
Due to the horrific nature of the burns sustained, forensic work has been slow, relying on DNA samples and dental records. Police have not released any names publicly as they continue to notify relatives.
A Community in Mourning
Hundreds of people joined a silent procession through the town on Sunday to honour those lost. After a memorial service at the Chapelle St-Christophe, a sombre crowd filed out to organ music, many with reddened eyes, before marching up the hill to the site of the fire at Le Constellation bar.
The dense procession walked in bright sunshine past shuttered shops. Mourners laid bouquets, cuddly toys, and other tributes at a growing makeshift memorial near the bar.
The crowd broke into applause as dozens of police and emergency service workers, some visibly emotional, walked through the procession to be honoured as heroes.
"Through this tragic event, I believe we must all remember that we are all brothers and sisters in humanity," said local resident Véronique Barras, who knows grieving families. "It's important to support each other, to hug each other and to move forward towards light."
Investigation and Ongoing Fallout
The region's chief prosecutor has stated that investigators believe the fire started when sparkling candles were held too close to the sound-dampening material on the basement ceiling. Two people who ran the bar are under criminal investigation on suspicion of offences including homicide by negligence.
Authorities are examining whether the ceiling material met regulations, if the candles were permitted, and reviewing overall safety measures including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
In addition to the 40 fatalities, 119 people were injured, many with severe and disfiguring burns. Several have been transferred to specialist burns units across Europe to assist overwhelmed Swiss clinics.
Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning on Friday, with church bells ringing across the country and a minute's silence observed.
