A harrowing new photograph circulating online appears to capture the exact moment a deadly fire erupted at a packed New Year's Eve party in a Swiss ski resort bar, leaving at least 40 people dead and 115 injured.
The Moment the Blaze Began
The image, shared on social media platform X, shows what looks like sparklers placed in champagne bottles igniting the wooden ceiling of the basement at Le Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana. This visual evidence corroborates accounts from eyewitnesses who were present during the catastrophe in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Two women who were inside the bar told French broadcaster BFMTV they saw a barman lift a female colleague onto his shoulders while she held a sparkler in a bottle. The flames spread with terrifying speed, causing the ceiling to collapse and triggering a frantic rush for the exits.
Desperate Escape and Ongoing Investigation
One witness described a chaotic crowd surge as panicked revellers tried to escape the basement nightclub via a narrow flight of stairs and a single door. Swiss authorities, led by Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler, have launched a major investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding it.
Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais Canton region attorney general, stated that the number of people inside the bar at the time remains "unknown" and that the venue's maximum capacity will be a key part of the probe. She confirmed that, for now, there are no suspects and no arrests, with the investigation opened to understand the circumstances rather than target individuals.
The bar is known to be popular with British tourists, though the nationalities of the victims have not yet been confirmed. The UK Foreign Office has stated it is "continuing to monitor the situation" and stands ready to support any affected British nationals.
A Nation in Mourning
As investigators worked at the scene, the local community and the nation began to grieve. Mourners gathered near the bar in freezing -4C temperatures on Wednesday night, leaving flowers and candles to pay their respects to the victims.
The tragedy struck on the first day in office for new Swiss President Guy Parmelin. He described emergency workers as having been "confronted by scenes of indescribable violence and distress." In a statement, President Parmelin added that Switzerland's strength comes not from being sheltered from drama, but from facing it with courage and a spirit of mutual help.
The work to formally identify all the victims and inform their families is ongoing, with the death toll yet to be finalised. The shocking event has cast a pall over the popular Alpine resort and prompted a profound examination of safety at public celebrations.
