Swiss Ski Resort Fire: 17-Year-Old Dubai Student Reportedly Among Victims

As Swiss investigators began the painful task of identifying the burned bodies of a devastating ski resort fire, several news outlets have identified a 17-year-old Dubai-based student as one of the victims.

The fire, which broke out at the popular ski resort Crans-Montana in Switzerland in the early hours of January 1, is reported to have killed more than 40 and injured more than 115 people.

Khaleej Times is withholding the name of the student pending confirmation from authorities and out of respect for the family.

The youngster in question was a talented golfer and a regular on the golfing circuits in the country, who had last participated in the UAE Cup which took place in December.

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The Italian Golf Federation posted their condolences, describing the youngster as an athlete who“embodied passion and authentic values” and wrote that their thoughts went out to his family and loved ones.

Although reported extensively, there is no confirmation from official sources. Investigators say it could take days or even weeks to identify all those involved in the incident.

Several prominent figures of the UAE's golfing community paid tribute to the young man, who was a school student in Dubai.

Khaleej Times has reached out to the school for a comment.

The fire is believed to have started around 1.30am local time on January 1 at a bar called Le Constellation in the resort. Bystanders and witnesses have described scenes of pure chaos as several youngsters tried to escape from the fire, many by breaking windows.

According to authorities, the fire was fierce and caused severe burns, making many of the dead and injured unidentifiable. Several French and Italian citizens are among the missing. Some parents have publicly issued pleas to help identify their children, who remain unaccounted for.

Italy's foreign ministry said 16 of its nationals were missing and 12 were among the injured. France said eight of its citizens were missing and it could not rule out that French nationals were among the dead. One Australian was among the injured.

It is not yet clear what caused the fire, although some witnesses say sparklers or flares in champagne bottles could have been one of the reasons.

The bar had a basement nightclub, which locals say was popular among youngsters. The exact number of people who were at the establishment when the fire broke out remains unclear, and police have not specified how many are still missing.

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