A devastating fire at a popular bar in a Swiss ski resort is feared to have killed 'several tens of people' and left around a hundred injured, with speculation mounting that sparkler-lit champagne bottles used in New Year celebrations may have been the cause.
Promotional Video Fuels Speculation on Fire's Origin
Questions over the origin of the fire at the crowded Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana intensified after a promotional video from 2024 resurfaced online. The footage shows revellers dancing with numerous bottles emitting sparklers, some held perilously close to the venue's low, wooden ceiling.
Eyewitness accounts given to French broadcaster BFMTV appear to corroborate the potential danger. Two women who were inside the bar alleged that a barman carried a barmaid on his shoulders while she held a lit candle or sparkler in a bottle. "During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders," one witness stated. "He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes."
Flashover and Overwhelmed Emergency Services
Officials indicated the initial blaze likely triggered a violent flashover or backdraft, where combustible gases ignite suddenly. The bar's construction, described by 28-year-old Dutch tourist Lara as "all wood" with a low ceiling, would have accelerated the fire's spread.
The aftermath has stretched local emergency services to their limit. Helicopters and ambulances, including some from other countries, rushed to the scene. The regional hospital's intensive care unit and operating theatre quickly reached full capacity due to the influx of seriously injured victims.
Valais Cantonal police commander Frederic Gisler said authorities were "devastated," while the head of the regional government, Mathias Renard, called the event a "nightmare." Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered his government's "sincere condolences" to the victims and their relatives in a social media post.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Appeal
While the specific cause remains under formal investigation, police have been unable to give a precise death toll as work continues to identify victims and inform families. The area, busy with ski tourists, has been urged to exercise caution to avoid further accidents that could drain already overwhelmed medical resources.
The tragedy, which occurred on what should have been a night of celebration, has cast a shadow over the resort community as it grapples with one of its worst peacetime disasters.
