SWISS cops have identified the bodies of all 40 victims who died in the tragic New Year’s Eve bar blaze in Crans-Montana.
All the victims range in age from 14 to 39 years old,with teenagers making up more than half of the death toll.
People lay flowers and light candles for the victims of the fire at the ‘Le constellation’ bar
Emanuele Galeppini was named as the first victim of the NYE Swiss bar fire
Chiara Costanzo, 16, was the second named victim of the deadly fire
Some 26 of the 40 dead were teenagers, with the victims including a 14-year-old French national and a 14-year-old from Switzerland, police said.
In total, 21 of the dead were Swiss citizens, seven were French and six were Italian.
Othre victims came from Romania, Turkey, Portugal, Belgium, as well as one Swiss-French dual national.
Grief-stricken mum Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who spent days searching for her missing son, Arthur, 16, said he was among them.
She said: “Our Arthur has now left to party in paradise.”
A 15-year-old Brit-educated girl is also believed to be among the victims.
Charlotte Niddam is listed on the resort’s website as a babysitter, adding that she is in crans “very often”.
she attended Immanuel Collage, a private Jewish school in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Photos documenting other missing persons, mostly teenagers and young people, with their names, dates of birth and relatives’ contact details, have been posted on social media.
Promising Swiss boxer Benjamin Johnson, 18, and bouncer Stefan Ivanović, 31, who helped save several revellers from the flames, were also named among the dead.
Swiss Bar Fire: Owners Face Manslaughter Investigation Over New Year’s Day Tragedy
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A criminal investigation has been launched against the owners of the Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana,Switzerland,following a devastating fire on New Year’s Day that killed two people and injured several others. Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica, 40, are under investigation for manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence, according to reports.
The investigation centers on renovations carried out in 2015, specifically the installation of acoustic insulation foam in the basement – the area where the fire originated – and whether safety protocols were adequately followed.
Sparkler-Ignited Blaze and Safety Concerns
The fire was triggered at approximately 1:30 am on january 1st when champagne sparklers held by waitresses ignited the acoustic foam, causing a rapid flashover that engulfed the venue. A flashover occurs when combustible materials in a room reach their ignition temperature together,resulting in a near-instantaneous and widespread fire.
Authorities are now scrutinizing several key areas, including:
* Fire Safety Equipment: The availability and functionality of fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment within the club.
* Emergency Exits: Whether emergency exits were properly accessible and clearly marked. A former waitress has claimed that an emergency exit was routinely locked, raising serious questions about evacuation procedures.
* renovation Compliance: The legality and safety of the 2015 renovations, especially the choice of flammable acoustic foam for the basement ceiling. The Sun reports that this is a central focus of the police investigation.
owners Break Silence Amidst investigation
The Morettis, who purchased Le Constellation ten years ago and initiated the renovations, briefly addressed the public over the weekend, but have not yet released a detailed statement regarding the allegations.
Community Mourns
The tragedy has deeply affected the local community of Crans-Montana. Residents gathered for a church service before walking in silence to the site of the fire to pay their respects to the victims, as shown in images published by The Sun.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.