Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old Israeli teenager who also held British and French citizenship, has been confirmed dead following a catastrophic fire that broke out during New Year’s celebrations at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. The blaze, which tore through a basement bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana, killed more than 40 people and injured over 100 others, making it one of the deadliest civilian disasters in Switzerland in recent years.
Charlotte Niddam had been reported missing in the immediate aftermath of the fire, prompting concern among her family, school community, and Jewish organizations across Europe and Israel. Her death was confirmed after identification efforts involving Swiss authorities and Israel’s ZAKA emergency response organization. The tragedy unfolded at the Le Constellation bar, a popular venue hosting a New Year’s party attended largely by young people and seasonal visitors to the ski resort.
Swiss police have said that some of the victims were as young as 14, underlining the youthful profile of many who lost their lives. As investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fire, Charlotte Niddam’s story has emerged as one of the most widely reported, reflecting both the scale of the disaster and the personal loss suffered by families spread across several countries.
Charlotte Niddam’s Background and Life Across Three Countries
Charlotte Niddam was born into a family with strong international ties, holding Israeli, British, and French citizenship. She spent part of her childhood in the United Kingdom, where she attended Immanuel College, a Jewish secondary school in north London. The school confirmed that Charlotte Niddam had been one of its students before her family relocated to France, where they had moved in recent years. Friends and teachers described her as a bright and engaged pupil, and news of her disappearance following the fire quickly spread through school and community networks.
Her multinational background reflected the increasingly transnational lives of many European and Israeli families, with education, family ties, and travel spanning borders. Charlotte Niddam was spending time in Switzerland over the New Year holiday period, a popular season for families and young people to visit Alpine ski resorts. Crans-Montana, located in the canton of Valais, is known for attracting an international crowd, particularly during the festive season, when bars and clubs host large celebrations.
When news of the fire first emerged, Charlotte Niddam was listed among those unaccounted for, leading to days of uncertainty for her family. Hebrew-language media reported that Israeli officials, Jewish communal representatives, and local authorities worked together to track down missing individuals connected to Israel or Jewish communities abroad. The confirmation of Charlotte’s death came after identification procedures that were complicated by the scale of the disaster and the condition of many of the victims.
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Israel’s ZAKA organization, which specializes in disaster victim identification and operates worldwide in coordination with local authorities, assisted in the identification process. Nachman Dickstein, a ZAKA official present at the site, described the moment as deeply painful, emphasizing the effort being made to conduct every stage of the process with sensitivity and respect for the deceased and their families. With Charlotte Niddam’s identification, Hebrew media reported that all Israelis and Jews initially reported missing in connection with the fire had been accounted for.
The New Year’s Fire at Crans-Montana and What Is Known So Far
The fire broke out shortly after midnight during New Year’s celebrations at the Le Constellation bar, a basement venue that was crowded at the time. According to the Valais region’s chief prosecutor, preliminary findings suggest that the blaze likely began when so-called “fountain candles,” a type of indoor sparkler often used in champagne bottles, were ignited too close to the ceiling. Images shared on social media showed the sparklers being waved in the air as part of the celebrations.
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The ceiling of the bar was reportedly low and lined with thin soundproofing foam, which may have been highly flammable. Investigators believe that sparks or flames from the fountain candles ignited the material, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Witness accounts described scenes of panic as smoke filled the basement space, making it difficult for people to find exits. Emergency services were called as flames and thick smoke engulfed the venue, but the speed at which the fire developed left little time for many inside to escape.
Swiss authorities confirmed that at least 119 people were injured, many with severe burns or smoke inhalation. Due to the seriousness of some injuries, patients were transferred to specialized burn units in hospitals across Switzerland and neighboring European countries. The identification of the deceased has been a complex process, involving forensic teams and coordination with foreign embassies, as many victims were not Swiss nationals.
The scale of the tragedy prompted immediate questions about safety standards at the venue. Prosecutors announced that two bar managers are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntarily causing a fire. While the individuals have not been publicly named, the investigation is focusing on whether safety regulations were properly followed. Authorities are examining whether the sound-dampening materials used on the ceiling met fire safety requirements and whether the use of fountain candles was permitted under local regulations.
In addition, investigators are assessing the availability and condition of fire extinguishers, the clarity and accessibility of escape routes, and overall compliance with safety measures designed to protect patrons in the event of an emergency. The findings of this investigation are expected to play a significant role in determining responsibility for the disaster and in shaping any future legal proceedings.
International Reaction, Community Impact, and Ongoing Investigations
News of Charlotte Niddam’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes and expressions of sympathy from communities in Israel, the United Kingdom, and France. Immanuel College in London issued a statement acknowledging her as a former student and asking that her family be kept in the thoughts and prayers of the community during what it described as an extremely difficult time. Jewish organizations across Europe also expressed condolences, highlighting the shock felt within close-knit networks that often span multiple countries.
In Israel, Hebrew media outlets covered the identification process closely, noting the involvement of ZAKA and the Israeli delegation working alongside Swiss officials. The confirmation of Charlotte Niddam’s death brought a measure of closure to the search for missing Israeli-linked individuals, even as the broader task of identifying all victims continued. Swiss police said that work was ongoing to formally identify every person killed and to notify families through official channels.
The tragedy has also sparked wider discussions in Switzerland and beyond about the use of indoor pyrotechnics and the enforcement of safety standards in nightlife venues, particularly during major events such as New Year’s Eve. Fountain candles, while commonly used in celebratory settings, have been associated with fires in enclosed spaces when used improperly. Authorities have indicated that part of the investigation will examine whether existing regulations were adequate and whether they were properly enforced in this case.
As memorials appeared near the sealed-off bar in Crans-Montana, with candles lit in memory of those who died, the focus has remained on the victims rather than the spectacle of the disaster. For Charlotte Niddam’s family, the confirmation of her death marked the end of days of uncertainty but the beginning of a period of mourning that crosses national borders. Her story has come to symbolize the human cost of the fire, particularly among the young people who were celebrating the start of a new year when tragedy struck.
Swiss authorities have said they will release further information as the investigation progresses, including details about safety inspections and any regulatory breaches identified at the venue. For now, the disaster stands as a stark reminder of how quickly celebrations can turn into catastrophe, and of the lasting impact such events have on families and communities far beyond the place where they occur.