Newsroom
Police in Switzerland have identified the 40 people who died in a devastating bar fire at the ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve, a tragedy that claimed the lives of young people from across Europe, many of them teenagers.
Valais cantonal police said Sunday evening that the victims include 20 minors, with ages ranging from just 14 to 39. Authorities did not release names but confirmed the nationalities and ages of those who died.
The victims came from at least eight countries. Police said 21 were Swiss nationals, followed by nine French victims, including a Franco-Swiss woman and a 15-year-old girl who held French, Israeli and British citizenship. Six Italian nationals were killed, including one who also held citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. The remaining victims were from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey.
Many of the dead were teenagers who had gathered at the bar to celebrate the arrival of the new year in one of Switzerland’s most popular ski destinations.
In addition to those who lost their lives, 119 people were injured in the fire. Authorities said 113 of the injured have so far been identified.
The fire broke out shortly before midnight on December 31, turning what should have been a night of celebration into one of the deadliest incidents in recent memory for the alpine resort. Investigators are continuing to examine how the blaze started and whether safety measures were followed.
As the investigation continues, Crans-Montana, usually bustling with skiers and holidaymakers, is left mourning a young, international crowd whose New Year’s Eve ended in tragedy.
