Swiss authorities have confirmed that 15-year-old Alice Kallergi was among the 40 people killed when a fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve.
The blaze also injured 115 people, including one Australian who is receiving medical and consular support.
Kallergi, who lived in Lausanne, had travelled to the resort with three friends to celebrate the New Year. Her 19-year-old brother, Romain, was also in Crans-Montana but at another venue.
After learning of the fire, he rushed to the scene and tried to enter the burning building but was held back by emergency services.
He later made repeated appeals on social media, hoping his sister had escaped, but authorities confirmed her death after identifying her remains.
Her father, Antonis Kallergis, announced the news on Sunday evening, sharing an image of an angel alongside his daughter’s name.
Swiss police say the fire broke out at about 1.30am local time and was not the result of arson, with investigations continuing into the cause. Some victims have yet to be identified due to the severity of their burns.
Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, confirmed an Australian national was among the injured and is receiving medical care and consular support.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said privacy obligations meant no further details could be released and that inquiries were ongoing to determine whether any other Australians were affected.
The inferno caused panic as flames burst from the ground-floor bar popular with tourists, with witnesses reporting screams and people collapsing outside the building.
An investigation into the tragedy remains underway.
Source: Tovima.
