(NewsNation) — Officials believe a New Year’s Day fire that swept through a popular ski lodge in Switzerland, killing 40 and injuring more than 100, was started by champagne bottles with sparklers held too close to the wooden ceiling.
The first victim to be identified is 17-year-old Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini, who lived in Dubai. The Italian Golf Federation confirmed Galeppini’s death.
Authorities are working as quickly as possible to identify the victims and those who are injured, the president of the Valais government said, and the Italian foreign minister is in town to help with the effort.
Police say there are 119 people injured, and all but six have been identified.
Of the injured, 71 are from Switzerland, 14 are from France, 11 are from Italy, four are from Serbia, one is from Bosnia, one is from Luxembourg, one is from Poland, and one is from Belgium. There are 14 injured victims whose nationality remains unknown.
Many of the injured remain in critical condition. Around 50 of those injured have or will be transferred to specialized burn centers around Europe.
The hospital in Upper Valais received 55 seriously injured people. Of those, 13 were able to go home, 11 are currently being treated, and 28 were transferred to other hospitals. Of the 11 patients being treated, four are in intensive care and three are in surgery.
Lausanne University Hospital is treating 22 people, all young patients with severe burn injuries over 15% to 60% of their bodies.
The chance of survival for those patients is unclear at this time. Many also suffered severe smoke inhalation.
A disaster victim identification team is working around the clock to identify the 40 fatalities using DNA characteristics.
“The usual parts used for identification, like the hands for example, that are used for fingerprints, these are the first parts to be destroyed, truly destroyed by the fire,” said Dr. Bernard Marc, one of those involved in identification.
The fire ripped through the Crans-Montana ski resort shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day, with witnesses describing a chaotic scene as people tried to flee the building through narrow doors and staircases.
The Forensic Institute of Zurich is investigating the cause of the fire and determining whether there is a case for criminal prosecution, with a team of 30 working on the case.
Some witnesses have described seeing champagne bottles with sparklers lit before the fire broke out, which is now believed to be the cause of the fire. Authorities say the sparklers held close to the building caused a “flashover” event, with the fire spreading rapidly.
The investigation will include looking into compliance of the acoustic foam on the ceiling, escape routes from the building and the use of sparklers, which may be legally purchased by any person, in an enclosed case.
The response has shifted from an emergency phase to one supporting the victims and their families. The initial emergency response included about 150 emergency personnel, 41 ambulances, 13 helicopters and two large vehicles.
A memorial service will be held on Jan. 9, 2026, at Crans-Montana.