A mother says goodbye to her son as Swiss community grieves after deadly fire
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — A mass was held for the victims Sunday new year’s eve fire The incident at a bar in the Swiss Alps resort of Crans-Montana left 40 people dead and scores seriously injured as distressed parents waited for news from their children or began the long mourning process.
Gray-haired parents, teenagers and police officers were seen consoling each other during the ceremony at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana. After the service, a silent walk was planned towards the place where the tragedy occurred.
In the crowded pews, a grieving woman listened intently as speakers gave readings in German, French and Italian, her hands clenched and sometimes her rosary beads clenched. Despite the freezing weather, hundreds of people watched the Mass on the screen set up outside the church.
Priest Gilles Cavin spoke of the “terrible uncertainty” experienced by families who are unsure whether their loved ones are among the dead or still alive among the injured. “On this day that should be a day of festivity and fellowship, we pray for his friends who have been hit hard by misery,” he said.
40 people died and 119 people were injured in the fire that broke out around 01.30 on Thursday. Le Constellation bar. Most of the victims were in their teens to mid-20s, police said.
By Sunday morning, Swiss authorities had identified 24 of the 40 deaths. These include 18 Swiss citizens aged between 14 and 31, two 16-year-old Italians, a 16-year-old dual citizen of Italy and the United Arab Emirates, an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old French citizen and an 18-year-old Turkish citizen.
A grieving mother
One of the victims was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, whose mother was frantically searching for him.
“Our Arthur has now left to party in heaven,” a visibly shaken Laetitia Brodard said while speaking to the camera in her story posted on Facebook on Saturday night. “We can begin to grieve knowing that he is at peace and in the light.”
Brodard’s frantic search for his son reflected the desperation of the families of young people lost in the fire who did not know whether their loved ones had died or were in the hospital.
Swiss authorities said the process of identifying the victims was particularly difficult because the burns were extensive and required the use of DNA samples. Brodard also provided a DNA sample to aid in the identification process.
In his Facebook post, Brodard thanked those who “witnessed their compassion, love” and shared information as he anxiously searched and waited for news of his son. Other parents and siblings are still waiting in pain.
Bar managers face criminal investigation
Swiss authorities launched a criminal investigation against bar managers.
The chief prosecutor for the Valais region, Beatrice Pilloud, told reporters on Saturday that the pair were suspected of unintentional murder, unintentional bodily harm and unintentionally causing a fire. The names of the executives were not mentioned in the investigation announcement.
Investigators said Friday they believe candles were shining on champagne bottles ignited the fire when they got too close to the ceiling of the crowded bar.
Authorities planned to investigate whether the soundproofing material on the ceiling met regulations and whether candles were allowed in the bar. Officials said they will also look at other security measures at the facility, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced a national mourning for the victims on January 9.
French Minister of Health Stéphanie Rist said that 17 of the 35 patients transferred from Switzerland to five European countries were treated in France. 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.
