Mourners in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, are grieving after an incident left people dead and injured, with some still missing. Residents gathered to lay flowers and candles, expressing shock and sorrow as the town grapples with the aftermath.
Pain and Remembrance
A steady stream of people brought candles and flowers to a memorial, some offering a single rose, others large bunches.
As the table filled, people began to place individual candles on the frozen ground.
Several groups of young men were visibly distraught, holding each other and searching for words to express their grief.
Some of those gathered struggled to voice their emotions.
A couple of young women stood for a long time with flowers, gathering the courage to approach the memorial table.
“There are dead and injured, and we have someone close to us who is still missing. We have no news of them,” said one of the women, who wished to remain anonymous.
After laying their flowers, they walked away, arm in arm.
“They were young people, and people we know,” said another woman, declining to give her name.
Asked if she knew what happened to those affected, she said: “Some, no. Some, we’re still waiting.”
The Christmas lights in the town continued to twinkle, but several bars closed their doors as a sign of respect.
Earlier, a mass was held at the Montana-Station church to remember those who lost their lives.
Sombre organ music played during the service, and people gathered outside afterwards, many with tears streaming down their faces.
“There was a lot of people, it was very solemn, and there was a beautiful sermon about hope. At least let us have that: hope,” said local churchgoer Jean-Claude.
One young man, overcome with emotion, said: “We just knew a lot of friends of friends who were there. And we pay them respect.”
“It could have been my son, quite simply,” said a mourner named Mina, visibly upset.
“Last night, it was just a coincidence that he wasn’t there,” she told AFP.
“There is a waitress he knows, she serves him all the time, he’s very friendly with her and unfortunately, she’s gone.”
Veronica, an elderly Italian mourner who has lived in Crans-Montana for 40 years, wiped away tears.
She said: “The pain of others is everyone’s pain.”
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