Swiss ski resort fire: Officials begin identifying victims

· DW

The first victim of a fire that tore through a bar in Crans-Montana has been identified as a young Italian golfer. But officials have said the process of identifying the victims will take time, as families await answers.

  • First victim of fire identified as young Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini
  • Officials warn against rushing process as identifying burned bodies requires time and certainty, say process can take days or even weeks
  • Australian, Italian, French and Polish nationals among those injured; some of those injured expected to be flown to neighboring countries like Germany for treatment
  • Switzerland holding five days of mourning
  • About 40 people died and 115 injured, many gravely, in the blaze, officials said

Follow here for developments in the Swiss bar fire tragedy on Friday, January 2, 2026: