CRANS-MONTANA – On Sunday, a somber Mass was held in memory of the victims of the devastating New Year’s Eve blaze at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana. The tragic incident claimed 40 lives and left many others with severe injuries. Grieving parents anxiously awaited updates about their children, while others began the painful journey of mourning their loss.
During the service at Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana, attendees, including gray-haired parents, teenagers, and law enforcement officers, found solace in each other’s company. Following the Mass, a silent march to the scene of the incident was planned to honor those affected by the tragedy.
Inside the crowded chapel, a heartbroken woman listened attentively to the multilingual readings, clutching her hands together and occasionally holding rosary beads. Despite the cold weather, hundreds gathered outside the church, watching the service on a screen.
The Rev. Gilles Cavin addressed the “terrible uncertainty” faced by families unsure of whether their loved ones were among the deceased or injured. “We pray for their friends struck by such sorrow on a day that was meant for celebration and camaraderie,” he expressed.
The inferno erupted at around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday at Le Constellation bar, resulting in the deaths of 40 individuals and injuring 119. Authorities have noted that many of the victims were young, ranging from their teens to mid-20s.
As of Sunday morning, Swiss officials announced that they had identified 24 of the 40 victims, including 18 Swiss nationals aged between 14 and 31, two 16-year-old Italians, a dual citizen of Italy and the UAE also aged 16, an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old French national, and an 18-year-old Turkish individual.
A grieving mother
One of the victims was 16-year old Arthur Brodard, whose mother had been frantically searching for him.
“Our Arthur has now left to party in paradise,” a visibly shaken Laetitia Brodard said in a Facebook story posted on Saturday night, speaking to camera. “We can start our mourning, knowing that he is in peace and in the light.”
Brodard’s frenzied search for her son reflected the desperation of families of the young people disappeared during the fire, who did not know whether their loved ones were dead or in the hospital.
Swiss authorities said the process of identifying victims was particularly hard because of the advanced degree of the burns, requiring the use of DNA samples. Brodard also had given her DNA sample to help in the identification process.
In her Facebook post, Brodard thanked those who “testified their compassion, their love” and to those who shared information as she anxiously searched and waited for news of her son. Other parents and siblings are still waiting in anguish.
Bar managers face a criminal investigation
Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation of the bar managers.
The two are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire, the Valais region’s chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, told reporters Saturday. The announcement of the investigation did not name the managers.
Investigators said Friday they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire when they came too close to the ceiling of the crowded bar.
Authorities planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar. Officials said they also would look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced a national day of mourning for the victims on Jan. 9.
France’s Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said 17 patients have received care in France, out of a total of 35 transferred from Switzerland to five European countries. Other patients were planned to be transferred to Germany, Italy and Belgium.
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Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw contributed to this report.
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