In brief
In the wake of a devastating fire on New Year's Eve at a bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, all 116 injured individuals have been identified. The incident claimed the lives of 40 people, sparking ongoing investigations into the possible causes, which may include the improper use of sparklers and questionable safety compliance.
All 116 people injured in a bar fire at a Swiss ski resort have now been identified, officials have said.
Forty people were killed when a fire tore through a busy venue in Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve, with victims' ages ranging from 14 to 39 years old.
While the dead had all previously been identified, work had been ongoing to establish who the injured were, some of whom remain in critical condition.
Swiss police confirmed that 83 people remained in hospital, with the injured including at least 12 nationalities.
Most of the injured suffered severe burns, making identification challenging, according to police.
Investigators initially reported 119 injured, but the latest update revised the number down. A criminal investigation has been launched into the French couple managing the Le Constellation bar, popular with a younger crowd where the drinking age is 16.
Preliminary investigations suggest that sparklers on bottles carried too close to the ceiling likely caused the fire. Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais canton lead prosecutor, mentioned that investigators were also looking into whether the ceiling's acoustic foam might be responsible for the fire and its safety compliance.
Details have begun to emerge about some victims, including Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15, and Arthur Brodard, 16. Emanuele Galeppini, a junior golfer aged 16, is also among the deceased. Tributes have poured in for these young lives lost in the tragedy.
