Crans-Montana Fire: 16 More Victims Identified as Parents Face ‘Agonizing Nightmare’

CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND — The grim task of identifying the victims of the New Year’s Eve inferno at Le Constellation bar continues. On Sunday, Valais cantonal police confirmed that 16 more bodies have been formally identified and returned to their families, bringing the total number of identified deceased to 24.

The tragedy has taken a disproportionate toll on the young. Among the 16 newly identified victims, nine were under the age of 18, including a 14-year-old Swiss girl, the youngest victim named so far. The group includes nationals from Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Turkey, and France.

Video from inside the bar appears to show the moment the ceiling covering caught fire

In a heart-wrenching video message, the mother of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard confirmed her son was among the dead. “Arthur has left to party in paradise,” she told her followers. “We can start our mourning, knowing that he is in peace and in the light.” Before the confirmation, she described her life as a “nightmare” while waiting for news of Arthur, whose friends were found with burns covering nearly half their bodies.

While 24 victims are now identified, at least 16 others remain unaccounted for based on the official death toll of 40. Among those still considered missing is Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old former student of UK-based Immanuel College and JFS.

Italian authorities also paid tribute to Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer described as a “young athlete with authentic values,” who is believed to be the first victim identified by his family.