A deadly New Year’s Eve blaze at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has left Switzerland reeling as officials begin naming the young victims.
> At a Glance
> – Four teens aged 16-21 are first to be identified among the dead
> – Blaze killed at least 40 and injured 119 party-goers
> – Investigators trace cause to sparklers on champagne bottles near ceiling
> – Why it matters: Families await closure as dozens remain unidentified and up to 100 injured are in critical condition
Swiss authorities confirmed the identities of four Swiss nationals on Jan. 3, returning their bodies to grieving relatives while forensic teams continue working through the devastation.
Victims Identified
The four teens include:
- A 16-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl
- An 18-year-old man
- A 21-year-old woman
Police withheld their names, citing privacy. Separately, Italy’s Golf Federation announced that promising player Emanuele Galeppini, 17, also perished.
Investigation and Injuries
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said surveillance and witness accounts point to sparklers igniting ceiling decorations, causing a rapid, uncontrollable fire. No suspects have been named and officials call the tragedy an accident.
| Nationality | Injured Count |
|---|---|
| Swiss | 71 |
| French | 14 |
| Italian | 11 |
| Other | 19* |
*Includes Serbian, Bosnian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Luxembourgish and 14 unknown.
Stéphane Ganzer warned that 80-100 injured remain in critical condition across regional hospitals.
Survivor Account
Laetitia Place, 17, described climbing over piles of people to escape through a small side door.
> “We all fell, we were piled on top of each other, some people were burning, and some were dead next to us.”
Key Takeaways
- Four of roughly 40 victims have been identified; work continues on the rest
- Sparklers placed on champagne bottles triggered the accidental blaze
- 119 people were injured, with nationalities spanning 9 countries
- Identification is proceeding slowly to ensure families receive correct remains
Swiss president Guy Parmelin called the celebration-turned-tragedy a moment of national mourning, extending condolences to victims and their families.
