An 18-year-old Swiss citizen of Turkish origin was among the 40 people killed in a devastating fire at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations, Swiss authorities said.
The victim was identified as Taylan Kaya, who had been living in the city of Sion, according to local media in Turkey. The Gaziantep Çepniler Association announced that condolences would be accepted in Kaya’s hometown of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey, while his funeral would be held in Switzerland.
Swiss police said on Monday that all victims of the fire, which broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, have now been identified.
The deceased ranged in age from 14 to 39, with 20 minors among those killed. Police said at least 15 of the victims were under the age of 18.
Among the youngest victims were two 14-year-old girls, one Swiss and one French. Authorities said the victims included nationals of several countries, among them 21 Swiss, nine French and six Italian, as well as one Belgian, one Portuguese, one Romanian and one Turkish national.
Police also said they have identified all those injured in the blaze, revising the number of wounded to 116, down from an earlier figure of 119. As of Monday, 83 injured people remained hospitalized.
Meanwhile, Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the managers of the Le Constellation bar, which was hosting a New Year’s event at the time of the fire.
Prosecutors said the two managers face charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence, while noting that the presumption of innocence applies.
Investigators are examining whether safety standards were properly followed.
Beatrice Pilloud, the chief prosecutor of the Wallis region, said the safety standards were among the focuses of the investigation.
She told reporters Friday that the leading hypothesis was that “sparklers or Bengal candles attached to champagne bottles and lifted too close to the ceiling” had ignited the deadly fire.
Videos shared on social media showed the low wooden ceiling — covered with soundproofing foam — catching fire and the flames spreading quickly, as revelers continued to dance, unaware of the death trap they were in.
Several witnesses said the event space in the basement of the establishment, where the fire began, was connected with the ground floor by only a staircase, which some described as “narrow.”
Turkish Minute with reporting from Agence France-Presse