The first victim of a devastating fire in a Swiss ski resort bar has been named, as the painstaking identification process continues.
At least 40 people were killed and another 115 injured after a blaze engulfed the Crans-Montana resort’s Le Constellation bar shortly after midnight on Thursday. It has been described as one of Switzerland’s “worst tragedies”.
Authorities on Friday said that 113 of 119 of the victims had been identified.
Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old athlete who lived in Dubai, was staying in the Crans-Montana resort with his family. He went to the resort bar with two friends on New Year’s Eve, Italian media reported.
In a statement, the Italian Golf Federation said it mourned the death of “a young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values”.
“In this time of great sorrow, our thoughts go out to his family and all those who loved him,” they said.
His page on the World Amateur Golf Ranking website described him as an Italian junior golfer who “loves to golf, compete and eat”.
Last year, he claimed the championship title at the Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open.
In a press conference on Friday, Swiss authorities said the fire could have “started from sparkler candles, otherwise known as flares that were placed on top of Champagne bottles.”
Authorities added: “They were taken too close to the ceiling leading to a flashover incident where the fire spread very rapidly.
“Several people have been interviewed and observations have been made on the premises.
“Two French managers of the bar and various people who escaped the tragedy have been interviewed.”
Investigations will look at renovation work, materials used and licensing arrangements and safety and security arrangements, fire extinguishers and emergency exit.
Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.
