Charlotte Niddam was one of 40 people killed in the blaze at the Crans-Montana resort’s Constellation bar on New Year’s Day
A former British schoolgirl has been confirmed amongst the casualties of a devastating fire at a Swiss ski resort on New Year’s Day.
Charlotte Niddam, 15, was amongst the 40 people who perished in the blaze at the Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort during the early hours of Thursday, January 1, as revellers were marking the beginning of 2026. A further 119 people sustained injuries whilst welcoming in the new year.
Charlotte had initially been reported as missing following the outbreak of the fire, reports the Manchester Evening News..
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister Charlotte,” the teenager’s family said in a social media post on Sunday, January 4.
Charlotte’s funeral is expected to take place in Paris later this week.
She was a pupil at Immanuel College in Hertfordshire, according to multiple reports. The school issued a statement saying it was “praying for a miracle” following the incident.
The teenager had been employed as a babysitter, according to the Crans-Montana resort website.
The Valais regional police force confirmed in a statement on Sunday that all 40 individuals who died in the blaze have now been identified. The victims included Swiss, French, Italian, Portuguese, Belgian, British and Israeli citizens, police said.
Officials have announced plans to review safety measures at the venue, including the availability of fire extinguishers and escape routes. They will also investigate whether the sound-dampening material used on the ceiling adhered to safety regulations.
The police force in the Valais region released a statement on Sunday confirming that all 40 victims of the tragic fire have now been identified.
The final 16 victims included two Swiss girls aged 15, a 22 year old Swiss woman, a Swiss and French woman both aged 24, two Italian girls aged 16 and 15, an Italian boy aged 16, a Portuguese woman aged 22, a Belgian girl aged 17, two French women aged 33 and 26, two French men aged 23 and 20, two French teenage boys aged 17 and 14, and a 15 year old girl with French, British, and Israeli nationalities, according to the police report.
Authorities had previously stated their intention to scrutinise whether the sound-absorbing material installed on the ceiling of the venue complied with safety standards.
In addition to this, officials plan to examine other safety precautions in place at the venue, such as fire extinguishers and escape routes.
