Swiss investigators are working to identify the victims of a devastating fire that swept through a crowded bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing around 40 people and injuring 115 others during a New Year's Eve party. The blaze broke out at 1:30 am on Thursday at the Le Constellation bar, and the cause is under investigation.
President Guy Parmelin announced five days of national mourning, calling the incident one of the most traumatic events in Swiss history. 'It was a drama of an unknown scale,' he said, paying tribute to the many young lives lost. He pledged to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Witnesses reported that the fire started after sparklers or flares were placed into champagne bottles. Two women told BFMTV they saw a bartender carrying a female staff member who held a lit birthday candle on a bottle, which set fire to the wooden ceiling. The flames spread rapidly, causing the ceiling to collapse and trapping revellers in a crowded basement.
Police warned that identifying all victims could take days or weeks. The exact number of people in the bar remains unclear. Chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said an investigation will examine whether the bar met safety standards and had adequate exits.
Hundreds gathered for a vigil on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles. Many knew people who are missing or injured. Sixteen Italian nationals are missing, and 12 are among the injured; eight French citizens are missing, and one Australian is injured. The injured were taken to hospitals in Switzerland and neighbouring countries.
The venue had two floors, with a bar upstairs and a basement nightclub accessed by narrow stairs. Locals speculated that people may have become trapped and incapacitated by smoke. The president of the Valais canton said what should have been a celebration turned into tragedy.
