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 incident has shaken the resort and its residents, many of whom knew the victims personally.
The New Year's Eve celebration turned into a nightmare for a group of 15 young individuals, some traveling by car and others by train from Milan. The resort, a familiar summer destination for these young people and their families, held a special allure for marking the new year. However, the night took a tragic turn at Le Constellation, a popular bar among young revelers, resulting in the loss of approximately 40 lives and critical injuries for 80 others.
But here's where it gets controversial... the fire's origin. Swiss prosecutors believe it started with sparklers placed in champagne bottles, which were then moved too close to the venue's ceiling. Beatrice Pilloud, the attorney general for Valais canton, confirmed this during a press conference, stating, "From that, a blaze began very quickly." The investigation is now examining the acoustic foam on the ceiling to determine if it complied with regulations and contributed to the spread of the fire.
Among the missing are Achille Barosi and Chiara Costanzo, both just 16 years old. Their friend, Gabriele, stood beside a floral tribute at the scene, reflecting on the tragedy: "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 is awaiting DNA confirmation, but the Italian Golf Federation has already announced his passing on their website.
Another missing person is Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15 years old. Her school, Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, has issued an urgent request for support, with a spokesperson stating, "We are all praying for a miracle for Charlotte and the others."
The injured include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French citizens, 11 Italians, and individuals from various other countries. Identifying the dead and remaining injured is expected to take days due to the severity of their burns.
One common thread among the victims is their youth. An Instagram account has become a memorial, filled with photos of the young faces of those still missing, as their friends and relatives desperately seek any information.
A 16-year-old Swiss national, Arthur Brodard, was reported missing by his mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre. She appealed for information on social media and to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, stating that she and his father had searched hospitals in Lausanne and Berne without success.
The grandfather of a 22-year-old French woman, Emilie Pralong, described an agonizing wait for information, believing she was at Le Constellation with friends.
Hospital workers in Berne have advised those with missing loved ones to provide details of any tattoos or jewelry that might aid in identification.
One survivor, Ludovico, whose parents own a holiday home in Crans-Montana, was part of a group of five friends who drove to the resort from Rome. They had spent the previous night at the bar and planned to return after celebrating the new year elsewhere. Ludovico described their narrow escape: "We were on our way when we saw people running away screaming, and flames behind them. We are so, so lucky."
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 heights 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 grief while having coffee with a friend: "It's the grief, as if we have all lost a loved one."
Many have fond memories of Le Constellation. Dalia Gubbay, a school council member in Milan for Jewish community schools, shared her personal connection: "I've had a holiday home here for more than 30 years and used to go there to play with the pinball machine."
Gubbay, a mother of six, revealed that her son and his wife celebrated the new year in an apartment behind the bar. As they walked home, they encountered people leaving the venue in tears, some with burns. Initially, they thought it might be another attack against the Jewish community, but this possibility 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. Reflecting on their decision, she said, "If they'd stayed, they might have gone to the party in Le Constellation. What has happened is unthinkable."
This tragic event has left a deep mark on the community, with families and friends awaiting news and struggling to come to terms with the loss of so many young lives.
