Swiss Begin Slow Process to Identify Victims of Crans-Montana New Year's Fire

Swiss authorities entered a period of national mourning as they began the painstaking task of identifying victims of a fast-moving fire that tore through a bar in Crans-Montana during New Year’s celebrations. Officials warned identification could take days or weeks because many victims suffered severe burns and were not carrying identification.

A Geneva emergency medical official said about 50 people were believed to have been badly burned. Authorities said experts were using dental records and DNA samples to establish identities, and that they would not inform families until they were completely certain of the results. The blaze killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100, including some from France, Italy and an Australian, officials said.

Regional burn units were quickly overwhelmed and patients were being treated across Switzerland and in neighboring countries. Hospitals in Zurich were treating 17 seriously injured patients, including four under 18. Five Italian patients were scheduled to be flown to hospitals in Italy, while others were being treated in France.

Italian officials said several Italian survivors were too critical to be moved. Italy's foreign minister visited Crans-Montana, laid flowers at a memorial and said 13 Italians had been hospitalized and six remained unaccounted for. He added that Italian forensic experts were available to assist Swiss authorities.

Key Topics

Sports, France, World, Switzerland, Fire, Crans-montana, Forensics