Crans-Montana: Victim Identification Continues – Over 40 Dead

The process of identifying the victims of the bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, continues, with the death toll exceeding 40 and the injured over 100. The fire broke out on New Year's Eve at the bar Le Constellation.

Béatrice Pilloud, Attorney General of the Canton of Valais, stated that various means have been mobilized to identify the victims and return the bodies to their families. Frédéric Gisler, head of the cantonal police, noted that the process may take several days.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with people trying to escape and many suffering burns. The injured have been transported to hospitals in Switzerland, France, and Italy.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, ruling out the possibility of an attack. The most likely scenario is a widespread fire that caused an explosion. Reports suggest that the fire may have been caused by sparklers on bottles.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, announced that the flags at the Swiss Federal Palace will fly at half-mast for five days.

Among the injured are French and Italian nationals. A crisis response team has been established in Crans-Montana to support the families.

Source: APE-MPE