A tragic fire at a New Year’s Eve party in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana has left approximately 40 people dead and 115 others injured, according to local authorities.
New Year’s Eve Fire in Swiss Ski Resort
Many of the injured are suffering from serious injuries, including burns. Swiss President Guy Parmelin has described the blaze at Le Constellation bar as “one of the worst tragedies” the country has ever seen.
The fire started at Le Constellation bar around 1:30 a.m. local time on January 1, after a large crowd gathered to celebrate the new year. Witness Ariel Amar, from Geneva, recalled hearing screams and seeing people covered in blood in the aftermath.
- Approximately 40 people are believed to be dead and 115 injured.
- The fire broke out at Le Constellation bar shortly after midnight on January 1.
- Witnesses reported seeing patrons with sparklers near the bar’s wooden ceiling.
“I thought it was like [a] fight, like usual, maybe when people are drunk. But at the end … people start[ed] to scream,” Amar told the ABC. “And after I’ve seen a guy pass next to me, covered in blood, burned.”
The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, but witnesses have reported seeing patrons waving sparklers close to the basement bar’s wooden ceiling at the time the fire broke out. The sparklers were reportedly attached to champagne bottles.
One witness, Julie, told The Times, “The sparks flew up to the ceiling and the whole thing caught fire. In a few seconds, the entire ceiling was on fire.”
Officials believe the fire likely triggered the release of combustible gases, leading to a flashover or backdraft. As the flames spread, a crowd surged toward the exit, with some revellers using a narrow staircase or smashing furniture through windows to escape.
Eyewitness Nathan said, “I thought I was either going to die or I’d manage to get out. But the only way was through a window, but the windows were blocked, so I grabbed a table and tried to smash it against a window. I couldn’t, and I thought, well, I’m going to die. But finally, I managed to kick the glass, it broke, and then we got out.”
First responders arrived quickly but were initially overwhelmed by the number of injured people, according to Amar. “The fire started really quickly, so they didn’t [know] maybe how to act with this many people injured,” he said. “A lot of people helped them.”
Parents Search for Missing Children
Parents of missing children have been searching nearby hospitals for news of their loved ones. Amar said, “We have some friends who went to the hospital directly to looking for their children, and they still haven’t found the children missing. So it’s terrifying.”
Swiss officials stated it could take days to identify all the victims, using dental and DNA samples. Mathias Reynard, head of government of the canton of Valais, explained that this thorough process is necessary due to the sensitive nature of the information and the need for 100% certainty before informing families.
Bar Was Popular With Young People
Crans-Montana is a popular destination for wealthy tourists during ski season. Witnesses said Le Constellation bar was a regular gathering place for younger people.
“It’s really popular when you’re a bit young, when [you’re] from 16 or 17 years old. But some friends, all the little boys go there,” Amar said. “When I was younger, I went there. So it’s shocking.” Many of those at the venue were between 15 and 20 years old.
The blaze is feared to be one of Switzerland’s biggest disasters given the number of people impacted.
Vigils Held as Locals Recall ‘Horror Movie’ Blaze
Residents have been leaving flowers at a makeshift altar near the bar, while others have gathered to stand in silence or light candles. “It was like a horror movie,” Ilan Achour, 26, told Reuters. “I lost my best friend, who was in my arms. We tried to revive her. There were firefighters, there were police officers, everyone was everywhere. It was insane.”
Another local, Piermarco Pani, 18, told the outlet that the blaze was a reminder that tragedy can strike anywhere. “You think you’re safe here but this can happen anywhere. They were people like us.”
Police have cordoned off the area as they investigate the cause of the fire.
ABC/wires
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