NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n
The first victim of the deadly bar fire<\/a> that killed at least 40 people at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort has been identified as Italian teenage golfer, Emanuele Galeppini.\n<\/p>\n The Italian Golf Federation confirmed Galeppini’s death in an Instagram post<\/a>, writing that the sports organization “mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried passion and authentic values with him.”\u00a0\n<\/p>\n “At this time of great sorrow, our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him,” the translated post added. “Emanuele, you will forever remain in our hearts.”\n<\/p>\n The organization added a black and white photo of Galeppini, writing across the image, “Ciao Emanuele,” which translates to “Goodbye Emanuele.”\n<\/p>\n Galeppini was 17 years old, according to Italian news agency Ansa<\/a>. PEOPLE has reached out to the Italian Golf Federation.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n PEOPLE previously reported that several dozen people were presumed dead following the fire, which occurred during New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n The Cantonal Police of Valais then confirmed that around 40 had died<\/a> in the blaze, which is believed to have caused an explosion, and approximately 115 people had been injured, per a translated news release<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n The total number of victims has since risen to 47, Sky News<\/a> reported, citing the Italian foreign ministry. Five victims have yet to be identified, per the outlet and Ansa.\n<\/p>\n St\u00e9phane Ganzer, head of the Canton of Valais’ security department, told French show RTL Matin<\/a> that “between 80 and 100 people” injured in the blaze are in “critical condition.”\n<\/p>\n Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 1, Mathias Reynard, the region’s council leader, said there were people with “severe injuries and severe burns,” noting that identifying the bodies of those who died will take time.\n<\/p>\n Authorities are pictured at the scene after a fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss Alps on Jan. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n MAXIME SCHMID \/ AFP via Getty<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud was also asked if champagne bottles with flares on them were used in the bar, though Pilloud said officials were not confirming anything at that time. The favored theory for now is that it was a “general fire which caused conflagration,” per Pilloud.\n<\/p>\n Pilloud added that officials do not have a suspect and have not made any arrests, while a member of a fire service said that the fire was an “accident.”\n<\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s president, Guy Parmelin, said during the press conference that the tragedy is “a drama of unknown scale,” per a translation.\n<\/p>\n In a post on X<\/a> earlier in the day, Parmelin shared, \u201cWhat was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, felt across the country and beyond. The Federal Council has taken note of this with deep dismay. Its thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families and it extends its deepest condolences.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Authorities are pictured at the scene after a fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss Alps on Jan. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n MAXIME SCHMID \/ AFP via Getty<\/p>\n Laetitia Place, 17, was among the survivors of the blaze<\/a>, telling Reuters<\/a> that she narrowly escaped.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe all saw really horrible things that no one should ever have to see,” Place said of being caught in the crowd as hundreds rushed for narrow exits.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s the small door where everyone was pushing, and so we all fell, we were piled on top of each other, some people were burning, and some were dead next to us,\u201d she recounted. \u201cI was so scared \u2014 scared for myself, scared for my friends, scared for everyone inside.”\n<\/p>\n