Crans-Montana Bar Fire Kills Dozens as Probe Eyes Pyrotechnics

Overview

• Swiss police report roughly 40 fatalities and about 115 injured, while Italy’s foreign minister cites 47 dead as counts continue to be revised.
• The first confirmed victim is 17-year-old Italian golf prospect Emanuele Galeppini, with officials warning that many identifications will require time and DNA analysis.
• Prosecutors say they are investigating a fire, not confirming any attack, as witnesses describe bottle-mounted pyrotechnic candles touching the ceiling and officials note an explosion likely resulted from the blaze.
• A fire-science expert says a rapid flashover could explain how flames engulfed the venue within seconds, aligning with footage that shows the ceiling catching fire as patrons initially try to smother it.
• A large cross-border medical response moved critically injured patients to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich, with transfers to France, Italy and Germany, including FC Metz youth player Tahirys dos Santos.