Two Jewish Sisters Identified Among Victims of Swiss Ski Resort Fire

The bodies of Alicia (15) and Diana (14) Gunst-Lagunikó, two Jewish sisters, were identified on Sunday among the victims of the deadly fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland, ending days of uncertainty for their family and community.

The sisters were members of an Italian-Jewish family and part of the Jewish community in Lausanne, which confirmed their deaths in a statement. They are believed to be the youngest among the confirmed fatalities. It has not been confirmed whether the two also held Israeli citizenship.

Swiss authorities said 40 people were killed and 119 injured in the blaze, one of the deadliest disasters in the country in recent years. As of Sunday, 24 of the victims had been formally identified, and 16 additional bodies were returned to families, according to local police.

Volunteers from ZAKA Europe are assisting Swiss authorities in the complex process of identifying victims. ZAKA Europe commander Nachman Dickstein said, “We arrived at a very complex and difficult scene, with bodies that are hard to identify and injured people hospitalized in serious condition. We are working together with the local authorities, not only for Jewish families but for every person affected by this disaster.”

Alongside the confirmation of the sisters’ deaths, concern remains for Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old Israeli citizen who was working at the resort as a babysitter at the time of the fire. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has defined her status as “disconnected from contact” and said she remains unaccounted for as searches continue.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Police said proceedings were launched against the two managers of the bar, who are suspected of causing death by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and causing a fire by negligence. Switzerland’s chief prosecutor stressed that there is no suspicion of terrorism in the case.

Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans visited the scene of the fire and laid flowers at a memorial erected outside the bar. “Switzerland is deeply sad,” he said.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said embassy representatives are in contact with Swiss authorities and the family of the missing Israeli teen, and will continue to monitor developments as identification efforts proceed.