Additional Coverage:
- Teens as young as 14 among 40 victims now identified in Swiss Alps fire, authorities say (nbcnews.com)
Victims Identified in Tragic Swiss Alps New Year’s Inferno
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland – Authorities in Switzerland have successfully identified all 40 victims of the devastating New Year’s Eve fire that engulfed Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alps last week. The blaze, which claimed the lives of numerous teenagers, has sent shockwaves across several nations.
Valais canton police announced Sunday that through collaborative efforts with the Institute of Forensic Medicine and the country’s disaster victim identification protocols, all victims have been positively identified and arrangements are being made for their return to their grieving families.
While specific names were not released out of respect for the families, officials provided details regarding the nationalities and ages of those who perished. The victims included a significant number of teenagers, some as young as 14, from various countries. Among them were six Swiss teenage girls aged 14 to 18.
Further identifications included a 15-year-old with French, Israeli, and British citizenship, along with six additional French citizens ranging in age from 14 to 39. A 17-year-old Belgian girl was also confirmed among the fatalities. The tragedy also claimed the lives of four 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old from Italy, and a 16-year-old Italian-Emirati citizen.
The catastrophic fire is believed to have originated from sparklers used on Champagne bottles, with preliminary investigations suggesting they were too close to the bar’s soundproofed ceiling, which then ignited. Videos from the scene depict the rapid spread of flames as patrons attempted to extinguish the fire or fled in panic.
Ebenezer Mehari, a 17-year-old who survived the inferno, recounted the horrific experience to NBC News, describing the scene as “hell” and stating he lost four friends. Blinded by thick smoke, he was pulled to safety by a stranger. “Somebody was dying in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything,” Mehari shared, recalling the devastating burns on a victim’s face.
An investigation has been launched into the bar’s management, who are facing suspicions of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing fire by negligence. Authorities will be scrutinizing the safety measures in place at the time of the incident and whether the soundproofing material complied with regulations.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin extended his deepest condolences, acknowledging the profound human cost of the tragedy. “Behind these numbers are faces, names, families, destinies brutally interrupted,” Parmelin stated in a news conference.