A 17-year-old Italian golf talent has been identified as the first victim of the deadly fire at a Swiss ski resort that killed 40 people and injured over 100. Emanuele Galeppini was named by the Italian Golf Federation, which expressed mourning for the young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values.
Galeppini’s father had publicly appealed for news of his son, who was celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The teen, originally from Genoa, had lived in Dubai in recent years to further his golf development.
The fire broke out in the packed bar 90 minutes into the New Year. Swiss officials said it could take days to identify all victims, as the blaze also left 115 injured, many seriously, and local hospitals at capacity. Parents of the missing pleaded for information, while foreign embassies worked to determine if their nationals were among the victims.
Authorities said the cause of the fire remains unclear but appears accidental. Survivors reported that sparklers may have ignited soundproofing on the ceiling. Witnesses described chaos, with no emergency exits and thick smoke. One survivor broke a window to escape.
Hundreds gathered near the scene on Thursday night to pay respects. Switzerland ordered the national flag flown at half-mast for five days as a sign of mourning.
