Eighty-three people remain in hospital following the devastating nightclub fire in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day. The bodies of five Italian teenagers have been repatriated from Switzerland.
Four days after the disaster, Swiss police announced that all 116 injured in the deadly fire have now been identified, along with the 40 fatalities, most of whom were teenagers.
Cause of the fire
Swiss authorities believe the blaze at the Le Constellation bar, in the luxury Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, started in the basement when fireworks attached to bottles of champagne came into contact with the ceiling’s soundproofing foam.
“This tragedy could and should have been prevented through caution and common sense,” said Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Italy’s Ambassador to Switzerland, who was present at Sion Airport for the repatriation of the bodies.
Victims and injuries
The police in the canton of Valais confirmed that all 116 injured have been identified and that 83 of them remain in hospital. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 39 years old.
Most of the deceased and injured are Swiss nationals. Among the dead are citizens from 19 countries, including nine French and six Italian nationals.
Among the injured were 23 French, 11 Italians, four Serbs, and two Polish citizens, according to police on Monday.
The most severely burned patients have been airlifted to specialised medical centres in Switzerland and abroad.
National mourning
Switzerland declared Friday a day of national mourning, with all church bells across the country ringing at 14:00 (15:00 Cyprus time). A one-minute silence has also been scheduled.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Switzerland on Friday for the official ceremony.