Six Unidentified Victims of Swiss Bar Fire Face Heartbreaking Wait

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CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A tragic fire at a bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana has left 40 people dead and 119 injured. Among those missing are six individuals whose identities remain unknown, offering a glimmer of hope for families still searching for their loved ones.

Arthur Brodard, a 16-year-old who went to the Le Constellation bar with friends to celebrate the New Year, is one of the missing. His mother, Laetitia Brodard, from Lausanne, Switzerland, expressed her desperation during a press conference. “I’m looking everywhere. The body of my son is somewhere,” she said. “I want to know, where is my child, and be by his side. Wherever that may be, be it in the intensive care unit or the morgue.”

The severity of the burns sustained by victims has made identification extremely challenging. Families are being asked to provide DNA samples, as many forms of identification were destroyed in the flames. In some cases, wallets and personal documents turned to ash, leaving no trace of the individuals they once belonged to. An Instagram account has become a platform for friends and relatives to share photos of those unaccounted for, hoping to gather information about their whereabouts.

Valais regional officials have acknowledged the immense emotional toll on families. Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais region's attorney general, emphasized the importance of identification in helping families begin their mourning. “You will understand that the priority today is truly placed on identification, in order to allow the families to begin their mourning,” she said during a news conference.

Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government, added: “We are aware of the particularly difficult hours, of the unbearable side of every minute that passes without answers."

‘You can’t imagine the pain I saw'

Investigators believe that the fire was caused by sparkling candles on top of Champagne bottles igniting the ceiling of the crowded bar. The incident occurred two hours after midnight on Thursday, when New Year’s Eve revelers were present. Marc-Antoine Chavanon, a 14-year-old witness, described the chaos he witnessed. “There was one of our friends: She was struggling to get out, she was all burned. You can’t imagine the pain I saw.”

Many of the injured were teenagers and young adults in their mid-20s. Authorities are investigating whether the sound-dampening material on the ceiling met safety regulations and if the candles were permitted in the bar. They will also review other safety measures, including the availability of fire extinguishers and escape routes. The region’s top prosecutor warned of potential prosecutions if any criminal liability is found.

Injured individuals came from across Europe

The injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. The nationalities of 14 people remain unclear.

Emanuele Galeppini, a promising teenage Italian golfer, was listed as one of Italy’s missing nationals. His uncle, Sebastiano Galeppini, told Italian news agency ANSA that the family is awaiting DNA results. However, the Italian Golf Federation announced on its website that he had died.