Swiss Police Identified First Four Victims Of Devastating New Year’s Eve Fire At Crowded Bar In Alpine Resort
New Delhi : Swiss police have identified the first four victims of the devastating New Year’s Eve fire at a crowded bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, days after the blaze claimed at least 47 lives and left dozens injured. Authorities said the identifications were made possible after “extensive” work by police officers and the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Investigators stressed that the process remains slow and complex due to the severity of burns suffered by many victims. Work to identify the remaining dead is continuing, but police said no further details would be released for now out of respect for grieving families. The fire broke out around 1.30 am on New Year’s Day inside the Le Constellation bar, which had been packed with revellers celebrating the start of 2026.
Swiss investigators believe sparklers attached to Champagne bottles may have triggered the blaze after coming too close to the ceiling, setting off what officials described as a rapid “flashover” — a phenomenon in which combustible gases ignite suddenly and violently. According to eyewitnesses quoted by French broadcaster BFMTV, people in a basement nightclub rushed up a narrow staircase towards a single exit, leading to a deadly crowd surge.
Read Also : Deadly Flashover Suspected in Swiss Resort Blaze as Death Toll Climbs to 47
