A devastating fire at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left families and communities reeling, with an agonizing wait for the identification of victims. This tragic event has shaken the resort and its residents, many of whom knew the victims personally.
The night of New Year's Eve, a group of 15 young people, some traveling by car and others by train from Milan, converged on Crans-Montana. They were drawn to the resort's famous bar, Le Constellation, a popular spot for affordable celebrations in a celebrity-filled ski destination.
While eight of the group managed to escape the inferno, three were critically injured, and four remain missing as of Friday evening. Among the missing are Achille Barosi and Chiara Costanzo, both just 16 years old. Gabriele, one of the survivors, stood by a floral tribute, reflecting on the cruel twist of fate: "Sometimes that's how destiny plays out. It's devastating."
The first victim to be publicly identified was Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old international golfer from Dubai. His family awaits DNA confirmation, but the Italian Golf Federation has already announced his passing. Another missing teenager is Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15, a student at Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire. The school community has come together in support, praying for a miracle.
Swiss prosecutors believe the fire was started by sparklers placed in champagne bottles, which were moved too close to the venue's ceiling. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud of Valais canton confirmed this during a press conference, stating, "From that, a blaze began very quickly."
The investigation is now looking into the acoustic foam on the ceiling to determine if it complied with regulations and if it contributed to the spread of the fire. So far, 113 of the 119 injured have been formally identified, including Swiss, French, Italian, Serbian, Bosnian, Belgian, Luxembourgish, Polish, and Portuguese nationals.
Identifying the remaining victims and injured could take days due to their severe burns. What's most striking is the youth of the victims. An Instagram account has been flooded with photos of the missing, their friends and relatives desperately seeking any information.
Arthur Brodard, a 16-year-old Swiss national, was reported missing by his mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre. Emilie Pralong, a 22-year-old French woman, is also missing, and her grandfather described an agonizing wait for news. Hospital workers in Berne have advised those searching for the missing to provide details of any tattoos or jewelry they may have been wearing.
Among the survivors is Ludovico, whose parents own a holiday home in Crans-Montana. He was part of a group of five friends who drove to the resort from Rome. They had spent the previous night in the bar and planned to return after celebrating the new year elsewhere. Ludovico described their lucky escape: "We were on our way when we saw people running away screaming, and flames behind them. We are so grateful."
Ludovico, a frequent nightclub-goer in Rome, noted the common practice of placing candles on champagne bottles to celebrate special occasions. However, he emphasized the difference in ceiling height between nightclubs and Le Constellation, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The collective grief in Crans-Montana is palpable. Residents, many with personal connections to the victims, are struggling to come to terms with the disaster. Jacques, a native of Crans, expressed his shock and grief: "I'm still trying to digest it. It's as if we've all lost a loved one."
Many have fond memories of Le Constellation. Dalia Gubbay, a school council member in Milan for Jewish community schools, has had a holiday home in Crans-Montana for over 30 years and used to frequent the bar to play pinball. Gubbay, a mother of six, shared her relief that her son and his wife, who celebrated the new year in an apartment behind the bar, were safe. Initially, they thought the fire might be another attack on the Jewish community, but this was quickly ruled out.
Two of Gubbay's other children, aged 15 and 17, had planned to celebrate New Year's Eve in Crans-Montana but decided to go to Florence instead. Gubbay expressed her gratitude: "When they got back last night, I cried and hugged them hard. If they'd stayed, they might have gone to the party in Le Constellation. What has happened is truly unthinkable."
This tragic event has left a deep mark on the community, and the wait for answers and the identification of victims continues.
