The youngest victim of the Swiss ski resort fire in Crans-Montana has been identified as 14-year-old girl, according to Swiss police. The blaze, which broke out at the Le Constellation bar on January 4, has killed at least 24 people, though authorities believe the death toll could be nearly double that.
Among the confirmed victims is Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old Italian golfer, who was identified by the Italian Golf Federation. The teenager, who lived in Dubai, was staying at the resort with his family and had gone to the bar with two friends on New Year's Eve.
Swiss police have identified 16 victims so far, including nine under the age of 18. The nationalities of the deceased include Swiss, Italian, Romanian, Turkish and French. Four new victims were confirmed on January 7: two Swiss women aged 21 and 16, and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16, though their names have not been released.
Families continue to search for missing loved ones. Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, mother of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, has been desperately seeking information. In a social media post, she said her son had 'left to party in paradise.' Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old former pupil of a private Jewish school in Bushey, Hertfordshire, was also confirmed dead after being reported missing.
The fire is believed to have been caused by sparklers mounted on champagne bottles, according to witnesses. Footage shows the fire spreading rapidly, forcing people to smash windows to escape. Investigations are ongoing.
