Many Swiss fire victims identified as parents are mourning or waiting to hear about the fate of the children

Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Mass was held on the Sunday of the victims A New Year’s Eve bonfire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana which left 40 dead and many seriously injured, as distraught parents awaited news of their children or began the long process of mourning.

By Sunday morning, Swiss authorities had identified 24 of the 40 dead, 16 more than they had previously. The dead included 18 Swiss citizens aged 14 to 31, two Italians aged 16, one citizen of Italy and the United Arab Emirates also aged 16, an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old Frenchman and a Turkish citizen, 18.

Apart from the 40 dead, 119 were injured in the fire that broke out around 1:30 am on Thursday at the Le Constellation pub. Police said most of the victims were in their mid-20s.

Gray parents, young people and members of the police were seen comforting each other during the service at Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana. The Mass was followed by a silent march towards the scene of the tragedy.

In the crowded seats, the grieving woman listened intently, her hands folded tightly and sometimes entwining rosary beads, as speakers delivered readings in German, French and Italian. Despite the freezing weather, several hundred attended the Mass on the screen installed outside the church.

Pastor Gilles Cavin spoke of the “terrible uncertainty” of families who are not sure if their loved ones are among the dead or alive, among the wounded. “We are praying for their friends who have been affected by grief on this day that was meant to be one of celebration and friendship,” he said.

One of the victims was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, whose mother had been frantically looking for him.

“Our Arthur has gone to play in paradise,” a visibly shaken Laetitia Brodard said in a Facebook post on Saturday night, speaking to the camera. “We can begin our sorrow, knowing that he is in peace and light.”

Brodard’s search for his confused son showed the despair of the families of young people who disappeared during the fire, who did not know whether their loved ones had died or were in the hospital.

Swiss authorities said the process of identifying the victims was extremely difficult due to the high level of burns, which required the use of DNA samples. Brodard had also given him a DNA sample to aid in the identification process.

In his letter on Facebook, Brodard thanked those who “proved their compassion, their love” and those who shared information as he anxiously waited for news of his son.

Some parents and siblings are still waiting in grief.

The Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s management.

The two are accused of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary wounding and arson, the chief prosecutor of the Valais region, Beatrice Pilloud, told the media on Saturday. The announcement of the investigation did not name the executives.

The investigators said on Friday that they believe that sparking candles on top of champagne bottles that have caught fire when they got very close to the roof of a busy bar.

The authorities planned to check whether the noise reduction devices in the ceiling complied with the rules and whether candles were allowed to be used in the bar. Officials said they will look at other security measures in the area, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared a national day of mourning for the victims on Jan. 9.

The Minister of Health in France, Stéphanie Rist, said that 17 patients received care in France, of which 35 came from Switzerland to five European countries. Other patients were scheduled to be transferred to Germany, Italy and Belgium.