Police identify first four bodies after 40 killed at Swiss ski resort fire in New Year's Eve blaze

Valais cantonal police announced that the remains have now been handed over to grieving relatives.

According to officials, the breakthrough came following what they described as "extensive" efforts by investigators working alongside the Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The painstaking process of identifying the remaining deceased continues as forensic teams work through the aftermath of the tragedy.

The inferno tore through Le Constellation, a bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana, claiming 40 lives and leaving 119 people with injuries.

Investigators examining how the blaze started have reached a preliminary conclusion pointing to sparklers attached to champagne bottles as the probable trigger.

The celebratory items were reportedly held too near the ceiling, igniting the fire that would engulf the venue.

While many of those who sustained injuries have been identified, relatives of people still unaccounted for are enduring an excruciating wait for news about their loved ones.

Switzerland's President Guy Parmelin has described the disaster as "one of the worst tragedies" his nation has ever faced.

Authorities have withheld further personal details about the four identified victims, including their names.

A young Italian golfer in his teenage years became the first casualty to be publicly named, although neither Swiss nor Italian officials have formally verified his death.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl who was educated in Britain remains unaccounted for following the devastating blaze at a Swiss ski resort that claimed 40 lives.

Charlotte Niddam had been residing in Bushey, Hertfordshire, until recently, where she was a pupil at Immanuel College, a private Jewish secondary school.

Her family has received no word from her since the tragedy struck Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during the early morning hours of New Year's Day.

The venue was packed with revellers, many of them teenagers, when flames engulfed the premises.

Swiss officials confirmed on Friday that more than 100 people sustained injuries, with some victims still awaiting identification.

However, the severity of their burns has made it very difficult to identify bodies, bringing more agony for families who now must hand over DNA samples to authorities.

Of the 119 injured, 113 have been identified, officials said on Friday.

The injured include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French and 11 Italians.

Other victims were identified as being from Serbia, Bosnia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland, Valais Canton police commander Fridïric Gisler said.

However, the nationalities of 14 people remain unclear.

Efforts to identify the remaining victims are ongoing as forensic specialists continue their work.

A dedicated telephone line has been established for families seeking information about missing loved ones, reachable on +41 848 112 117.