In brief
In the wake of a devastating fire that claimed multiple lives at the Le Constellation bar in Switzerland, a Mass was held for the victims, drawing hundreds of mourners. Families are receiving heartbreaking news as they identify the dead, with forensics working to confirm identities through DNA and dental records. Survivors remembered the horrific scenes, while police have opened a criminal investigation into possible negligence by the bar's owners.
In the snow-dusted street outside St Christopher's Church, hundreds joined a special Sunday Mass for the victims of the fire that tore through Le Constellation bar on New Year's Eve. Many hugged each other, crying quietly, as they remembered the dozens killed and those still in hospital with severe burns, fighting for their lives. During the service, several in the crowd fainted and fell to the ground, overcome.Police say more than 20 of the dead have now been identified, although not named publicly. Their bodies are being returned to their families, some of whom who had been holding on to the hope their children might yet be found - injured, but alive. They're now receiving the worst possible news.Laetitia Brodard, whose teenage son Arthur died in the fire, was among the mourners at the memorial service. He died that first day, she confirmed, leaving a heart-wrenching message on Facebook that her son had gone to party in paradise. Many of the victims are difficult to identify due to severe burns, and some injured in hospitals remain unconscious and unrecognizable, compounding the families' agony.The sight of the fire had filled the bar with young people, many of whom were teenagers, leading to a chaotic scene when the flames erupted. Survivors later described the horror of watching the fire spread swiftly, igniting panic as they tried to escape.A criminal investigation is underway, focusing on the bar owner's suspected negligence related to safety standards and overcrowding. The local community has come together in grief, standing strong in memory of those lost. Firefighters and rescue workers were also honored during the Mass, showing solidarity in a shared tragedy that now binds the community of Crans Montana together.
