A fire at a crowded New Year's Eve bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has killed about 40 people and injured 115, authorities said. The blaze broke out at 1.30am on Thursday at the Le Constellation bar, which was packed with revellers, many of them teenagers. Witnesses reported that the fire started after sparklers or flares were placed into champagne bottles, or when a lit birthday candle set fire to the wooden ceiling.
Swiss 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 young lives lost. The injured have been taken to hospitals across Switzerland and into neighbouring France, with some suffering severe burns and lung damage.
Police warned it could take days or weeks to identify all victims, as the exact number of people in the bar at the time remains unclear. The canton's chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said an investigation is under way to determine the cause and whether the bar met safety standards. Italy reported 16 nationals missing and 12 injured, while France said eight citizens were missing.
Hundreds gathered for a vigil on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles in the freezing cold. Ulysse Brozzo, a 16-year-old ski instructor, said several friends were in the club and some remained unaccounted for. 'It's a total tragedy,' he said. 'There were hundreds of people inside.'
