Swiss authorities have now confirmed the identities of 24 people who died in a devastating fire at a New Year’s Eve celebration in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, as families continue to wait anxiously for news of the remaining victims. The process of identifying the dead has been slow, with authorities stating that the severity of the burns has made visual identification impossible in many cases, requiring DNA analysis.
Police in Valais canton announced that 16 additional victims were identified over the weekend, many of them teenagers. Among the newly confirmed dead are four teenaged Swiss girls, including the youngest victim so far, a 14-year-old. Six Swiss males aged 16 to 31 were also among those identified.
The victims further include two Italian teenagers aged 16, a 16-year-old with Italian-Emirati citizenship, an 18-year-old Romanian, an 18-year-old Turkish national, and a 39-year-old French citizen, the oldest victim identified to date. With these confirmations, fewer than half of the 40 people who died in the blaze remain unidentified.
Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday for a Mass at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana. Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey told those attending that support had poured in from around the world that “Countless people join us — people whose hearts are broken. Many expressions of sympathy and solidarity reach us. Pope Leo XIV joins in our sorrow. In a moving message, he expresses his compassion and his care for the victims’ families and strengthens the courage of all who are suffering.”
The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. Thursday at the Le Constellation bar, where hundreds had gathered to ring in the New Year. Investigators believe the blaze started when sparkler-style “fountain candles” placed on Champagne bottles were raised too close to the ceiling. The ceiling’s soundproofing material is thought to have ignited, allowing flames to spread rapidly through the crowded venue. Video footage from inside the bar shows panic as some patrons tried to put out the fire while others fled.
In addition to the fatalities, 119 people were injured, many with severe burns. Dozens were transferred to specialist burn units across Europe, including hospitals in France, Germany, Italy and Belgium. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said 17 patients have been treated in France alone.
A criminal investigation has been opened into the bar’s two managers. Prosecutors are examining potential charges including negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire through negligence. Investigators are reviewing whether the ceiling materials met safety regulations, whether the use of sparklers was permitted, and what fire safety measures — including extinguishers and emergency exits — were in place.
The tragedy has shaken Switzerland and drawn international sympathy. Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his “deepest condolences,” saying, “Behind these numbers are faces, names, families, destinies brutally interrupted,” during a press conference. Swiss authorities have declared a national day of mourning on Jan. 9 as identification efforts continue.
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