The bodies of 16 more victims of a bar fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have been identified by police. The youngest victim was a 14-year-old Swiss girl, and nine of the identified victims are under 18. The group includes individuals from various nationalities, including Swiss, Italian, Romanian, Turkish, and French. This unfortunate update raises the confirmed death toll to 24, following the identification of eight Swiss citizens earlier in the week.
An investigation into the incident, which occurred during New Year's celebrations at Le Constellation bar, is presently underway. Families of the victims are enduring a challenging wait for news regarding loved ones who are still unaccounted for. Authorities have indicated that no further information about the individuals identified will be disclosed, respecting the victims' families.
Preliminary findings suggest that the fire was likely ignited by sparklers being carried too close to the ceiling, leading to devastating consequences. The tragedy claimed the lives of at least 40 individuals and injured 119, many of whom were teenagers, as the bar was a popular venue for a younger clientele, where the legal drinking age is 16.
The eight recently identified individuals were between the ages of 16 and 24. On Saturday, the Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, expressed that the identification process has been slow due to severe burn injuries sustained by many victims.
The bar is owned by a French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are now facing allegations of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. The investigation is also examining the role of acoustic foam on the bar's ceiling to determine whether it adhered to safety regulations. Among those missing is a teenager reported to have attended two schools in the UK, adding a personal dimension to the unfolding tragedy.
An investigation into the incident, which occurred during New Year's celebrations at Le Constellation bar, is presently underway. Families of the victims are enduring a challenging wait for news regarding loved ones who are still unaccounted for. Authorities have indicated that no further information about the individuals identified will be disclosed, respecting the victims' families.
Preliminary findings suggest that the fire was likely ignited by sparklers being carried too close to the ceiling, leading to devastating consequences. The tragedy claimed the lives of at least 40 individuals and injured 119, many of whom were teenagers, as the bar was a popular venue for a younger clientele, where the legal drinking age is 16.
The eight recently identified individuals were between the ages of 16 and 24. On Saturday, the Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, expressed that the identification process has been slow due to severe burn injuries sustained by many victims.
The bar is owned by a French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are now facing allegations of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. The investigation is also examining the role of acoustic foam on the bar's ceiling to determine whether it adhered to safety regulations. Among those missing is a teenager reported to have attended two schools in the UK, adding a personal dimension to the unfolding tragedy.
