Swiss face painful task of identifying victims of deadly bar fire

Swiss investigators began the difficult task Friday of identifying victims from a devastating New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana ski resort. The blaze killed around 40 people, with some reports citing 47 deaths, and injured over 112 people, many seriously. Victims suffered severe burns, requiring dental and DNA analysis for identification, a process Swiss officials said could take days. Italian and French nationals are among the missing, with Italy confirming 13 hospitalized and 6 missing. Australian authorities reported one injured national. Swiss authorities believe the fire was accidental, possibly sparked by decorative candles igniting the basement ceiling. The upscale resort town of Crans-Montana, popular with skiers and golfers, observed mourning with flags at half-mast. Hundreds gathered at makeshift memorials near the cordoned-off bar.