Israeli Woman Still Missing Following Deadly New Year's Eve Fire in Swiss Ski Resort
An Israeli woman is among 7 people missing after a devastating New Year's Eve fire at a Swiss ski resort bar killed at least 40 and injured over 100. Authorities investigate safety violations as families await news.
An Israeli woman is among those still unaccounted for after a catastrophic fire ripped through a crowded bar during New Year's Eve celebrations in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing at least 40 people and injuring over 100 others.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that it is in contact with the woman's family and coordinating with local authorities to locate her, as search and identification efforts continue amid growing scrutiny over the bar's safety measures.
Swiss officials reported that seven individuals remain missing as of Saturday, with families enduring an agonizing wait for news.
The blaze, which erupted shortly after midnight on January 1 at Le Constellation bar, is believed to have been sparked by lit sparklers attached to champagne bottles that ignited flammable foam on the ceiling, leading to a rapid inferno.
Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar's operators, focusing on potential safety violations.
On Saturday, Valais police announced the identification of the first four victims, all Swiss nationals: a 16-year-old girl, a 21-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old man. Their bodies have been returned to their families, but their names have not been released.
Among the injured, 113 out of 119 have been identified, including citizens from Switzerland, France, Italy, and other countries.
The tragedy has left relatives in despair. One mother, Laetitia Brodard from Lausanne, spoke of her search for her 16-year-old son, Arthur, who was at the bar with friends: "I’m looking everywhere. The body of my son is somewhere."
British media also reported that 15-year-old Charlotte Niddam, a former student at a Jewish school near London, is among the missing.
Another survivor, 23-year-old Ashley Hauri, recounted how four of her friends who attended the event are still unaccounted for, while two others were hospitalized.
Prosecutors have warned that full identification of the deceased could take several days due to the severity of the burns and the need for forensic analysis.
The fire, one of Switzerland's deadliest in recent history, has prompted questions about crowd control and fire safety in the popular resort town, known for attracting international tourists. As investigations proceed, makeshift memorials have sprung up near the charred site, with locals and visitors leaving flowers and messages of condolence.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as the search for the missing continues.