A devastating fire at a crowded bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana has killed around 40 people and injured 115 others, as revellers celebrated New Year's Eve. The blaze broke out at 1.30am on Thursday at Le Constellation bar, with witnesses reporting that it may have been started by sparklers or flares placed in champagne bottles.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced five days of national mourning, describing the incident as one of the most traumatic events in the country's history. He paid tribute to the many young lives lost, stating that Switzerland owes it to them to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV that they saw a bartender carrying a female staff member on his shoulders. She was holding a lit birthday candle on top of a bottle, which set fire to the wooden ceiling. The flames spread rapidly, causing the ceiling to collapse and engulfing a crowded basement where many teenagers were partying.
Swiss police warned that identifying all victims could take days or weeks, as the exact number of people in the bar remains unclear. The canton's chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said an investigation is underway to determine the cause and whether the bar met safety standards.
Hundreds gathered for a vigil on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles. Many knew people who are still missing or were seriously injured. The injured have been taken to hospitals across Switzerland and neighbouring countries, with France and Italy reporting missing and injured citizens among the victims.
Crans-Montana is a popular ski resort in the Valais canton, known for attracting wealthy European visitors. The venue had two floors, with a bar on the main level and a basement nightclub accessed by narrow stairs, which may have trapped revellers as smoke filled the room.
