A New Year’s Eve celebration at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland turned into a mass-casualty disaster after a fire and explosion ripped through a crowded bar, killing more than 40 people and injuring at least 115. Many of the wounded remain in intensive care with severe burns, as investigators work to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
Fire breaks out in crowded bar
The fire erupted at around 1.30am local time on Thursday at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, according to authorities in the canton of Valais. The venue was packed with revellers, including many young tourists, who had gathered to welcome the New Year.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people attempted to smash windows to escape, while others fled with severe burns. Several survivors spoke of screams, thick black smoke and people collapsing inside and outside the bar.
Identification of victims under way
The process of identifying the victims continued on Friday, January 2. “All necessary means have been mobilised to identify the victims and return the bodies to their families as quickly as possible,” said Valais chief prosecutor Béatrice Piller, noting that the process could take several days. Valais police chief Frédéric Jaccard confirmed that investigations are ongoing. Authorities expect that many of the victims are foreign nationals, though no official list has yet been released.
International victims and hospital transfers
Among the injured are nine French citizens, while eight more French nationals are reported missing, according to France’s foreign ministry, Quai d’Orsay. Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said around 15 Italians were injured and a similar number remain unaccounted for.
Patients were transferred to hospitals in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich, as well as facilities in neighbouring France a Italy. A crisis response unit has been set up at the Crans-Montana conference centre to assist families and provide guidance and support.
National mourning
Hundreds of people gathered silently outside the destroyed bar on Thursday evening, braving freezing temperatures to pay tribute to the victims. Swiss flags at the Federal Palace will fly at half-mast for five days, announced Swiss President Guy Parmelin.
What caused the blaze
Authorities have ruled out an attack and are focusing on accidental causes. “The leading scenario at this stage is a large-scale fire that triggered an explosion,” prosecutor Béatrice Piller said.
Witness accounts reported by international media suggest that indoor pyrotechnics may have ignited the ceiling. Some testimonies describe sparklers attached to champagne bottles as part of a regular show at the bar, while others claim a firework was lit indoors. French broadcaster BFM and other outlets published images allegedly taken by patrons showing champagne bottles with sparklers as flames spread across the ceiling.
Safety questions raised
Serious questions have emerged over safety measures at the venue. A customer told Swiss newspaper Blick that there was only one emergency exit in the basement area and that congestion quickly formed as people tried to escape. He said he had previously wondered what would happen in the event of an emergency.
Swiss media note that fire safety regulations are set at cantonal level and are particularly strict for entertainment venues hosting more than 100 people. Whether these rules were fully complied with at Le Constellation remains under investigation.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Switzerland and beyond, with authorities warning that the full scale of the disaster may only become clear in the coming days.
Source: cnn.gr