Authorities in Switzerland have completed the identification of all 40 people who lost their lives in a devastating fire at a bar in the alpine resort of Crans‑Montana on New Year’s Eve, underlining the scale of one of the country’s deadliest recent peacetime tragedies.
Police in the canton of Valais announced late on Sunday that the victims include 20 minors. Those who died were aged between 14 and 39 and came from eight different countries, reflecting the international character of the popular ski destination.
According to the official breakdown, the victims include 21 Swiss nationals, nine French citizens, six Italians, as well as one Belgian, one Portuguese, one Romanian and one Turkish national. Among them was also a 15-year-old girl holding triple nationality: French, Israeli and British. One of the Italian victims also held citizenship of the United Arab Emirates.
Swiss police said the Swiss victims included 11 females and 10 males, many of them teenagers. The French victims ranged in age from 14 to 39, while the Italian victims included several 15- and 16-year-olds. The remaining victims from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey were aged between 17 and 22.
In addition to the fatalities, 119 people were injured in the blaze. Of these, 113 have so far been formally identified, with medical and investigative teams continuing their work in the aftermath of the fire.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, as authorities focus on supporting victims’ families and assessing safety conditions at the venue.
Source: Euronews