Police know identity of other dead after Valais bar fire

Swiss police on Sunday identified 16 more victims of a tragic fire that broke out during New Year's Eve at the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. A total of 24 of the at least 40 deceased have been identified so far.

Among the newly identified are ten Swiss nationals, two Italians, one Romanian, one person with Italian-Emirati citizenship, one French and one Turkish.

The youngest person identified is a 14-year-old Swiss woman, while two 15-year-old Swiss women are also among the dead. Ten of the other bodies identified on Sunday were teenagers aged 16 to 18. Two Swiss men aged 20 and 31 and a 39-year-old French national are also among the dead.

According to preliminary findings, the fire was probably caused by pyrotechnic candles attached to champagne bottles, which were carried too close to the ceiling covered with flammable insulation material by the operator.

The public prosecutor's office in the canton of Valais has opened criminal proceedings against the two managers of the bar on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless bodily harm, as well as negligent arson. The investigation is focusing on the reconstruction of the bar's interior, the presence of fire protection systems, escape routes and the number of patrons at the time of the fire.

(reuters, max)