Swiss authorities have made significant progress in identifying the victims of a devastating New Year's Eve fire at a popular bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort. As of Sunday, police have confirmed the identities of 24 of the 40 people who perished in the tragedy.
Victims Include Young People and Foreign Nationals
The list of identified victims includes 11 minors and six foreign nationals, highlighting the international appeal of the resort. Among those named are ten more Swiss nationals, comprising four women and six men aged between 14 and 31.
The foreign victims identified so far include two 16-year-old Italians, a 39-year-old Frenchman, a 16-year-old dual national of Italy and the United Arab Emirates, an 18-year-old Romanian, and an 18-year-old Turk. Police had previously identified eight Swiss victims, bringing the total confirmed to 24.
Bar Owners Face Serious Charges
In a major development, the French couple who owned and managed the Le Constellation bar have been formally charged. Jacques and Jessica Moretti are facing allegations of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
The blaze erupted in the bar's packed basement around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 31st. The bar was reportedly crammed with young partygoers celebrating the arrival of the new year. The inferno also left 119 people injured, many with severe burns.
A Community and Nation in Mourning
A heavy pall of grief has settled over Crans-Montana. Hundreds of residents and visitors participated in a silent walk to a chapel of rest following a memorial service for the victims. The service, one of several planned, was held in a church located just 300 metres from the scene of the fire.
Pastor Gilles Cavin, representing the Reformed Church of Switzerland, told the packed congregation that many of the victims were apprentices, high school students, and university students. He emphasized the community's refusal "to look away" in the face of such tragedy.
Switzerland has declared January 9th a national day of mourning. At 2:00 p.m. local time, church bells across the country will ring, followed by a moment of silence to honour the dead.
International Toll and Probable Cause
With Crans-Montana being a hub for international tourists, the injured also represent a wide range of nationalities. Authorities report that among the 119 injured are 71 Swiss nationals, at least 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbs, and individuals from Belgium, Bosnia, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal.
While the official investigation continues, initial reports point to the likely cause. Authorities believe lit sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited flammable foam material on the ceiling, leading to the rapid spread of the deadly fire.
The community, along with the families of the victims from Switzerland and abroad, continues to grapple with the scale of the loss as the identification process and legal proceedings move forward.
