Summary

  • "We just want to find him," says Achille Barosi's aunt - the 16-year-old was in Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, when a fire broke out early on New Year's Day

  • Arthur Brodard's parents are also searching for their son - his mother Laetitia says: "Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. It's terrible"

  • Officials say the blaze has killed 40 people and injured 119 others - of those injured, 113 have been formally identified - including 71 Swiss citizens, 14 French and 11 Italians

  • Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, says he knows "each minute that passes without answers" is "unbearable" for victims' relatives

  • Swiss authorities believe the fire at the ski resort bar was "caused by sparklers attached to champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling" but "several hypotheses" are still being investigated

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  1. Upmarket resort is home to 87 miles of trailspublished at 06:29 GMT 1 January

    Crans-Montana is an upmarket ski resort in the Swiss region of Valais, which is popular with British tourists.

    The town is home to 87 miles of trails.

    At the end of January, the resort is due to host a prestigious speed skiing event – the FIS World Cup.

    A picture from May 2024 of the bar where the explosion happenedImage source, Google Maps
    Image caption,

    A picture from May 2024 of the bar where the explosion happened

  2. Several killed after explosion in Swiss ski resort barpublished at 06:16 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    Several people have been killed, and others are injured, after an explosion in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, police say.

    The blast occurred at 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) in the Constellation Bar, police said in a statement to the BBC.

    Unverified footage circulating on social media showed a fire burning at a bar where New Year's Eve celebrations had been taking place.

    A helpline for families of those affected has been set up, police said.

    Crans-Montana is a luxury ski resort town located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, approximately two hours from the Swiss capital of Bern.