Authorities in Switzerland announced they have identified the bodies of four victims who died in the fire at the Le Constellation bar

A woman mourns at the site of the bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 2, 2025.Credit : Harold Cunningham/Getty

Swiss authorities have identified the first victims who died in the bar fire at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Police revealed on Jan. 3 that the bodies of four victims were identified and handed over to their families, per the Associated Press, BBC and CNN.

They four victims — a 16-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman — were all identified as Swiss nationals, though their names have not yet been released, per the outlets.

They were among at least 40 people who died and 119 people who were reportedly injured following the blaze, which occurred at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.

Previously, on Jan. 2, the Italian Golf Federation also announced the death of one of its golf stars, 17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, due to the fire.

A firefighter looks on at the memorial for the victims of the Le Constellation bar fire on Jan. 1, 2025.Harold Cunningham/Getty

The sports organization wrote in a translated post on Instagram that it “mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried passion and authentic values with him.” The organization added, “At this time of great sorrow, our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him. Emanuele, you will forever remain in our hearts.”

In a press conference on Jan. 2, Pierre-Antoine Lengen, head of the Swiss Judicial Police, said that they are continuing the process of identifying those who died in the fire and that it was the “absolute priority” for them. He said, per BBC, “No mistakes can be permitted. We need to give the correct remains back to the families.”

Officials said in the same press conference that of the 119 people injured, 113 people have been identified and their nationalities include 71 Swiss, 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbian, one Bosnian, one Dutch, one Polish, one Portuguese and one person from Luxembourg. Fourteen people’s nationalities are unknown.

Stéphane Ganzer, head of the Canton of Valais’ security department, told French show RTL Matin that “between 80 and 100 people” injured in the blaze are in “critical condition.”

Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said officials believe — following interviews and videos analyzed of the incident — that the fire started from sparklers being placed on bottles of champagne that were moved too close to the ceiling, and that a blaze began “quickly,” per a translation.

Pilloud added that officials do not have a suspect and have not made any arrests, while a member of a fire service said that the fire was an “accident.”

One of the survivors of the blaze, 17-year-old Laetitia Place, recalled to Reuters that she “saw really horrible things that no one should ever have to see” and narrowly escaped the bar through a “small door where everyone was pushing.”

Emergency workers respond to a scene where a fire broke out at Le Constellation bar on Jan. 1, 2025.Valais Cantonal Police via Getty

“We all fell, we were piled on top of each other, some people were burning, and some were dead next to us,” she recounted. “I was so scared — scared for myself, scared for my friends, scared for everyone inside.”

Guy Parmelin, Switzerland’s president, shared in a post on X on Jan. 2, “What was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, felt across the country and beyond. The Federal Council has taken note of this with deep dismay. Its thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families and it extends its deepest condolences.”