 "People lay flowers and light candles for the victims of the fire at the \"Le Constellation\" bar and lounge during New Year's celebration, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. AP")
Authorities have confirmed the identities of 16 additional victims from the fatal bar fire at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, raising the official death toll to 24, the BBC reported.
Among those identified is a 14-year-old Swiss girl, with nine of the victims under the age of 18. Police said the group included people of Swiss, Italian, Romanian, Turkish and French nationalities. Eight Swiss citizens had been identified earlier on Saturday.
The tragedy took place during New Year’s celebrations at the Le Constellation bar, where early findings suggest the fire may have been sparked by sparklers attached to bottles being carried too close to the ceiling. Investigators believe this likely caused the fire, though inquiries are still ongoing.
Authorities continue to piece together the sequence of events as families wait for answers following one of the deadliest incidents the resort has seen in recent years.
French owners under fire
Prosecutors in the Valais canton have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s two French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson.
Police and the public prosecutor’s office said the inquiry was launched after initial findings suggested potential failures in safety measures and regulatory compliance. The couple have been interviewed but not formally detained, and Swiss authorities emphasise that the presumption of innocence applies until a conviction.
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View AllInvestigators are looking into whether building materials, fire safety systems, emergency exits and crowd limits were properly managed, as well as the bar’s inspection history. The tragedy has drawn widespread grief, with victims including many young people, and ongoing efforts to identify those killed or critically injured.