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An 18-year-old Swiss citizen of Turkish origin has been identified among the victims of the devastating New Year's fire that tore through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing approximately 47 people and injuring more than 100 others.
Taylan Kaya, a resident of Sion who was registered in the population records of Koseler village in Gaziantep province, Türkiye, died in the blaze that erupted at Le Constellation bar shortly before 1:30 a.m. on January 1. He was the son of Mehmet Kaya and Gulcin Celik, according to Turkish media reports.
The tragedy unfolded as young revelers rang in the New Year at the popular establishment, which had a capacity of 300 people plus an additional 47 on its terrace. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people attempted to break windows to escape the flames, while others covered in burns poured into the streets.
Investigators are examining witness accounts suggesting that sparklers mounted on champagne bottles during a staff presentation may have triggered the fire. Several witnesses told media outlets that waitresses carrying bottles adorned with sparklers as part of a regular show for patrons came too close to the ceiling, igniting the blaze.
"They got too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it all caught fire," one witness identified as Axel told Italian media outlet Local Team.
Wallis canton chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said preliminary findings indicated "the fire that caused the explosion," rather than an explosion triggering the fire as early reports suggested. Authorities have ruled out an attack but continue investigating the exact cause.
The fire prompted a massive emergency response, with victims transported to hospitals across Switzerland and neighboring countries. More than 30 people were taken to specialized burn units in Zurich and Lausanne, while six were evacuated to Geneva. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed some injured were being treated in French hospitals.
Guy Parmelin, who assumed the Swiss presidency on January 1, called it "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced" and ordered flags flown at half-mast for five days. He described the incident as "a calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions."
Given Crans-Montana's status as an international destination, authorities expect foreign nationals to comprise a significant portion of the casualties. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reported approximately 15 Italians injured and a similar number missing, while France's foreign ministry said nine French citizens were injured with eight unaccounted for.
The investigation will examine whether Le Constellation met all safety requirements. Multiple witnesses described the event space in the basement, where the fire began, as connected to the ground floor by a single staircase that some characterized as narrow.
Pilloud declined to confirm these descriptions, stating the probe would "determine whether all safety standards were met." She said it remained too early to assess whether emergency exits met required standards or if proper procedures were followed before organizing the New Year's event.
Authorities warn that identifying all victims could take days or even weeks. On Thursday evening, approximately 400 people gathered for a church service in Crans-Montana to honor the victims, while hundreds more assembled silently in the icy night to lay flowers and light candles near the tragedy site.
The bar's owners, reportedly a French couple originally from Corsica, are safe but have been unreachable since the incident, according to sources who spoke to AFP.
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