A survivor of the devastating fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has described the moment he felt flames pass over his head. The blaze, which broke out in the basement of Le Constellation bar on New Year's Eve, has killed 40 people and injured more than 100 others.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, teenager Ferdinand recalled his ordeal: 'I felt all the fire pass over my head. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I couldn't breathe. Because the fire was taking all of the air, I clung to a table and managed to pull myself out.'
Swiss officials believe the fire was caused by sparklers placed in champagne bottles. The intensity of the inferno has made identification of victims extremely difficult, with authorities warning the process could take days or even weeks.
BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford reported from outside the resort, noting the agonising wait for families. 'There are lots of families waiting for answers, hoping that perhaps their relatives aren't among the dead but could be injured somewhere and still not identified even in hospital,' she said.
The fire, described as 'fierce' by authorities, has raised questions about how it spread so quickly and whether any fire safety violations occurred. Mourners have been laying flowers and lighting candles for the victims outside the bar.
