Geneva, 5 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The authorities have identified all 40 victims who died in the New Year's bar fire in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, including a 14-year-old Swiss girl - the youngest victim to date - police said on Sunday.

The inferno at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort is believed to have been triggered by a party sparkler which set fire to foam on the ceiling, according to the current state of investigations. The fire spread with explosive speed.

Many of the victims are minors, among them Swiss and Italians, plus an Italian-Emirati national.

Those identified so far also include an 18-year-old Romanian, a Turkish 18-year-old and a Frenchman aged 39.

Among the 119 injured are more than 70 from Switzerland, as well as others from France, Italy, Serbia and a small number of other nationals.

Investigators are examining whether fire safety regulations were followed.

The two French operators of the bar are under investigation on suspicion of negligent homicide and other offences.

National commemoration for the victims

Switzerland is planning a national day of mourning and a memorial service for the victims on Friday.

The community has set up an online condolence book. The first entry was made by Federal President Guy Parmelin: "To all grieving families, to all victims, I once again say with seriousness and sincerity: Your suffering is also our suffering."

He stated that he would attend the memorial service in Crans-Montana. Whether other heads of state would attend was still unclear, he said in newspaper interviews.

At the beginning of the memorial service in Crans-Montana, church bells are to ring across the country, accompanied by a nationwide minute of silence, Parmelin said.

Photo: EPA