Identification process for 40 people killed in bar fire continues, say Swiss police

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The identification of 40 people who died in the fatal bar fire during New Year's celebrations in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana is continuing while most of the 119 injured victims have been formally identified, authorities said on Friday.

Valais cantonal police commander Frederic Gisler, told a joint press briefing that 113 of the injured have been identified, while the identification process of six others is still taking place.

Among those identified are 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italian, four Serbian, one Bosnian, one Belgian, one Luxembourg national, one Polish and one Portuguese, he said.

According to Gisler, the nationalities of 14 others who were injured remain unknown, and figures could still evolve as identification work progresses.

Valais State Council President Mathias Reynard warned that the medical situation remains critical for many survivors.

"We want to remind everyone that many injured people are still fighting for their lives today. Many of those receiving care are in critical condition,"Reynard said.

Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said early investigative findings suggest that sparkling candles on bottles ignited the fire.

"Everything suggests that the fire started from incandescent candles or Bengal lights that were placed on champagne bottles and that everything was brought too close to the ceiling," she said, describing a rapid and generalized blaze.

Pilloud said videos have been obtained and analyzed, several people have been interviewed, and observations were made on site, including during hearings with the two French managers of the bar and survivors. She said these interviews allowed investigators to compile lists of people present at the party, which are being used to support the identification process. The hearings also helped clarify the internal layout of the premises, renovations carried out and the bar’s capacity.

She said the next phase of the investigation will focus on the work carried out inside the bar, the materials used, operating permits and security measures, including fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, compliance with fire safety standards and the number of people present compared with the venue’s authorized capacity.

“There will be a possibility of examining whether there is criminal liability involving individuals,” she said, adding that if those individuals are alive, proceedings could be opened for negligence-related offenses.

She stressed that identification remains the central priority "so that families can begin their grieving process."

Police said internationally standardized formal identification protocols are being applied, a "process that takes time." Files have been opened in coordination with several countries, including Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal, as well as the Philippines, the Congo, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye, to allow for formal and definitive identifications as quickly as possible.

Reynard said a ceremony will be held in Crans-Montana on Jan. 9 to allow the country to come together in national mourning.