Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the managers of a ski resort bar where at least 40 people were killed in a devastating fire during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
‘A criminal investigation was opened last night against the two managers of the bar.
‘They are charged with manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence,’ police and the public prosecutor’s office in the southwestern Swiss canton of Wallis said in a statement.
The inferno, which broke out at the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) on Thursday morning, killed at least 40 people and another 119 were injured.
Police identified four victims of the tragedy earlier today as two Swiss women, aged 16 and 21, and two Swiss men, aged 16 and 18.
Further details including their names have not yet been released, but Valais canton police said their bodies have been returned to their families as efforts continue to identify the other victims.
Emmanuele Galeppini, 17, was the first victim to be identified after his death was confirmed in an Instagram post by the Italian Golf Federation on Friday.
A skier passes candles near the sealed off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where at least 40 people were killed in a devastating fire during New Year’s Eve celebrations
Swiss officials described the blaze as a likely flashover, meaning that it triggered the release of combustible gases that can ignite violently.
Much suspicion has already focussed on the dimpled foam acoustic insulation which covered the ceiling of the basement bar and appeared to ignite from a sparkler held aloft on a Champagne bottle, then spread with terrifying ferocity.
Witnesses described the ensuing panic as revellerts tried to escape from the nightclub area in the basement, up a flight of stairs and through a narrow door, causing a crowd surge.
