Tragedy in Switzerland: Difficulties in identifying 40 victims, revealing the cause of the bar fire.
On January 2nd, Swiss authorities officially began the complex forensic process to identify the victims of the devastating fire at the Crans-Montana resort on New Year's Eve. With the bodies of approximately 40 people found severely disfigured and 115 injured, this is considered one of the worst modern-day tragedies in the country.
Challenges in identification
As of the morning of January 2nd (local time), rescue efforts have moved to the investigation and recovery phase. Authorities warn that the identification process could take several days due to the severity of the burns.
At the latest press conference, Nicolas Feraud, Mayor of Crans-Montana, affirmed that the top priority now is restoring the names of those who perished. However, this task is facing numerous difficulties.
Mathias Reynard, the head of the Valais cantonal government, said that forensic experts are having to use dental records and DNA samples for comparison.
"This work demands absolute precision. The information is so sensitive and heartbreaking that we cannot inform the families unless we are 100% certain," Reynard emphasized, under pressure from the relatives of the missing.
Currently, many foreign nationals are believed to be among the victims. The Italian embassy confirmed that six of its citizens are missing, while the French Foreign Ministry also announced that it is searching for eight citizens who have not yet been contacted.
Investigation points to a "flare" incident.
Regarding the cause of the incident, Swiss prosecutors initially ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack and concluded that it was an accident.
The surviving witnesses provided crucial clues. On BFM TV, two French witnesses stated that they saw flames erupt from the wood-paneled ceiling in the basement area, shortly after a bottle of liquor fitted with a "birthday sparkler" was raised high.
"The fire spread to the ceiling at an extremely rapid pace," a witness said.
The Italian ambassador to Switzerland also quoted local authorities as reinforcing the hypothesis that the fire originated from the use of fireworks in an enclosed space.
Local prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said the most likely scenario was that a spreading fire triggered a subsequent explosion, causing the building's structure to collapse rapidly.
The fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026, at Le Constellation bar – a popular entertainment spot for young people in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana. At the time, the bar was packed with people celebrating New Year's Eve.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the flames engulfed the building. Samuel Rapp, 21, recounted in shock the sight of many people lying motionless on the ground after escaping. Survivors, many suffering burns, had to flee into the freezing night.
The nearby UBS bank branch was repurposed as a makeshift first aid station to warm and triage victims before transferring them to specialized burn hospitals in Lausanne and Zurich.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his deep sorrow, calling it a national tragedy. Hundreds of locals and tourists came to lay flowers and light candles in remembrance at the quarantined area, amidst an atmosphere of shock that enveloped this once peaceful town.
