Police have identified the first four bodies of individuals who perished in a fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort on New Year's Eve. The victims, two Swiss women aged 21 and 16, and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16, have been returned to their families, according to officials.
Extensive efforts by officers and the Institute of Forensic Medicine facilitated these identifications. The investigation into the fire continues as the authorities work to identify the remaining victims.
The tragic blaze at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana claimed 40 lives and left 119 others injured, creating an atmosphere of profound concern among the families of the victims.
Initial findings suggest that the fire was ignited when sparklers on champagne bottles were carried too close to the ceiling. Switzerland's President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies the nation has faced.
Further details regarding the victims, including their names, have not yet been disclosed. The first confirmed fatality was a teenage golfer from Italy.
A helpline has been established for concerned families, available at +41 848 112 117.
