Swiss authorities officially confirmed the first victims of the Crans-Montana fire this morning – after an Italian teenager staying in Switzerland was reported dead last week
Emma O’Neill, Patrick Hill Senior News Reporter and Liam Doyle
15:20, 03 Jan 2026
Emanuele Galeppini was reported dead following the disaster last week(Image: INSTAGRAM)
The first victims of the devastating fire at a Swiss ski resort have been identified, following a disaster believed to have claimed around 40 lives, with several others still reported missing and feared dead by anxious relatives.
Alongside the estimated 40 fatalities, more than 100 people were injured after the blaze broke out in the Le Constellation bar on Thursday morning at approximately 1.30am. Witnesses described the shocking incident as having been triggered by sparklers attached to champagne bottles.
Video footage from the scene, shared online, showed flames rapidly engulfing the building, forcing patrons to flee for their lives, with some survivors saying they only escaped by breaking windows.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, tributes are being paid to those who lost their lives, with the first official confirmations emerging this morning.
Swiss citizens
Police in Valais, the canton – or regional area – in which Crans-Montana lies, confirmed today that extensive identification had identified four new victims of the disaster; two Swiss women aged 21 and 16, and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16. They have not been named.
The four have become the latest people confirmed to have died, with their bodies now returned to their families as others appeal for their missing loved ones to be found. A spokesperson for the cantonal police said in a statement that the work to identify further victims continues.
Emanuele Galeppini
Emanuele Galeppini, 16, from Italy, was identified as the first victim of the fire on Friday by the Italian Golf Federation, which in a statement remembered the “young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values”. The statement added: “In this time of great sorrow, our thoughts go out to his family and all those who loved him.”
The teen lived in Dubai, and was staying in the ski resort with his family over the New Year. He went to Le Constellation on New Year’s Eve with two friends, according to local media in Italy. Neither Italian nor Swiss officials have confirmed the death of Mr Galeppini.
The first victim of the Swiss ski resort fire has been named as Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian teen golfer.(Image: Instagram/@federazioneitalianagolf)
Charlotte Niddam
Charlotte, 15, who previously lived in Bushey, Hertfordshire and was educated at Immanuel college, a private Jewish secondary school, is also missing following the fire. The teenager had been studying at the school until recently, which said in a statement that it was “praying for a miracle for Charlotte” after her family has reportedly not heard from her in the new year.
Former Brit pupil Charlotte Niddam is also among the missing
Arthur Brodard
Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, the mum of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, who was at the bar when it caught fire, is desperately seeking for information that could bring her son home. The mum told local outlet BFMTV: “He could be anywhere. I’ve been in Crans-Montana for 30 hours without any news of my child.”
Ms Brodard-Sitre said last week she had been searching for him “for over 30 hours” after checking local hospitals without any information. She added: “My son is alone in a hospital, if he’s alive. Even if he’s in a morgue, because by now you have to be able to think clearly after more than 30 hours, I don’t know which morgue, I can’t be by his side.”
Arthur Brodard was at Le Constellation when it caught fire, his family said(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Alicia and Diana Gonset
Little is known about Alicia and Diana Gonset, aged 15 and 14, beyond that they have been reported missing by family members following the disaster last week. Their missing persons appeal was posted on TikTok, where the family requested information be sent to a contact email.
Alicia and Diana Gonset were reported missing over social media
Alice Kallergis
The brother of Alice Kallergis, a 15-year-old from Greece who is a Swiss permanent resident, has pleaded for information also on social media for information that could lead to her being found. He said in desperate posts online that his family has received “no news” of the teenager following the fire last week.
Emilie Pralong’s grandfather has appealed for information about his granddaughter
Emilie Pralong
The oldest of the missing people reported so far is just 22 years old, identified as French national Emilie, whose grandfather Pierre has urgently appealed for information. Mr Pralong said the French national had spent New Year’s Eve at the bar with two friends, and has not responded to calls or messages since it caught fire.
The granddad added that her disappearance was a “very hard test” for the family in an interview with BFMTV, adding: “She led a serious life – and the next day she was no longer there.” He pleaded: “Give us information. Call me, call the grandfather.”
Giovanni Tamburi’s mum is desperately searching for the 16-year-old
Giovanni Tamburi
Giovanni, 16, from Bologna in Italy, has been reported missing by his mum, Carla Masielli, who, like Arthur’s mum, said she has tried contacting “all the hospitals” without success. She told local media he was in Crans-Montana with his dad at the time of the fire, adding: “We don’t know if he’s among the dead. We don’t know if he’s among the missing. They don’t tell us anything!”
Stiven Ivanovski was wearing ‘white pants and a white sweater’ when he went missing
Stiven Ivanovski
The family of Stiven Ivanovski, a Macedonian national who was staying in Crans Montana, have reported the teen missing. His cousin said he went missing while wearing sunglasses, a white T-shirt and pair of trousers in a desperate appeal for information posted on TikTok.
People could be seen holding up their phones to record the moments leading up to the fire on New Year’s Day.(Image: Tim Merry)
The injured
Approximately 119 people have been recorded as injured following the fire, most of whom have been taken to a nearby hospital, some in critical conditions, local officials have said.
The injured have been identified by their nationalities, which include:
- 71 people from Switzerland
- One person from Luxembourg