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All 40 people who died in a fire in a bar at a Swiss ski resort on New Year’s Eve have been identified, authorities said.
The final 16 victims were identified late on Sunday, according to a representative of Valais Police, who responded to the tragedy, described as one of the worst in Switzerland’s recent history. The Alpine country is set to hold a national day of mourning this week.
Some 26 of the 40 victims who lost their lives were teenagers, with the youngest being two 14-year-olds from France and Switzerland.
A total of 21 of the victims were Swiss citizens, seven were French and six were Italian.
One victim was a dual Swiss-French citizen, while another, a 15-year-old girl, held French, British and Israeli nationalities. The remaining victims came from Romania, Belgium, Portugal and Turkey.
Close to 120 people were also injured in the blaze in Crans-Montana, with many, according to local health officials, sustaining severe burns and wounds.
The Swiss government said that 35 patients were transferred from hospitals in the country to specialised clinics in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy.
Valais canton chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said early investigations indicate sparklers are the likely cause of the fire.
Eyewitnesses recall seeing bar staff carrying champagne bottles with fountain candles attached to the top throughout the evening.
She noted that sparklers were held too close to the ceiling at Le Constellation bar, igniting flammable materials and surfaces, allowing the flames to spread rapidly. The regional prosecutor, however, noted that authorities are still investigating several hypotheses.
Authorities are also investigating wrongdoing or negligence as a potential cause of the blaze. One of the ski resort’s owners, speaking to local Swiss media outlets, said the bar had complied with safety regulations and had undergone three inspections over the last decade.
Police say various units are still at the site, searching the blackened ruins of the venue for clues that could provide more information. They also noted that cyber units are reviewing social media footage from the night to aid the investigation.
The probe is also examining prior renovations at the bar and the materials used. Pilloud said investigators are analysing samples of the acoustic dampening foam in the ceiling to assess whether it meets all fire safety standards.
The probe will also assess whether the bar had adequate safety protocols, including the availability of fire extinguishing systems, escape routes and compliance with the maximum number of people permitted in the bar at any one time.
Two people who ran the bar are under criminal investigation on suspicion of homicide by negligence. Police said on Sunday that a criminal enquiry was also launched into negligent bodily harm and negligently causing a fire.
The two people, who have yet to be named, have not been taken into custody, as police noted there was no indication that they would try to evade the legal proceedings.
