The initial casualty of the blaze at the Crans-Montana ski resort has been identified as Emanuele Galeppini, a young golfer from Italy. The 17-year-old was acknowledged by the Italian Golf Federation, which expressed condolences for the loss of a “dedicated athlete who exemplified passion and genuine principles.” Emanuele, hailing from Genoa, was a promising golfer and a member of the Rapallo Golf Club. His father, Edoardo Galeppini, disclosed to TgCom that they had lost contact with him after he was at the Constellation for New Year’s Eve festivities with friends.
Following a fire that engulfed a bar at the ski resort during New Year celebrations, approximately 100 individuals are currently battling for survival. Swiss authorities are investigating the cause of the fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which resulted in around 40 fatalities and 115 injuries during the New Year’s revelry. Valais State Councillor Stéphane Ganzer estimated that between 80 to 100 individuals are in critical condition out of the 115 injured, with many facing life-threatening situations.
Efforts to identify victims in hospitals have been challenging due to the severity of their injuries, as mentioned by Mr. Ganzer. The Valais government president, Mathias Reynard, acknowledged the complexity of identifying victims while commending hospital staff for their continuous efforts. Although the death toll has not risen above 47, the situation remains tense, with ongoing work to provide extensive medical care to the victims.
The State Councillor highlighted the ongoing challenges in hospitals, emphasizing the dedication of staff who have returned to work to support their colleagues. Discussions are also in progress to bring in specialist burn doctors to Switzerland. A recent report from the French Foreign Ministry indicated that nine French nationals sustained injuries in the incident, while eight others are still unaccounted for. The ministry stated that it cannot be ruled out that French citizens may be among the victims, pending the completion of identification processes.