A horrific New Year's fire at a popular bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left approximately 40 people dead and around 115 injured, with officials warning many of the survivors are in a life-threatening condition. The blaze tore through the crowded Le Constellation bar, which was packed with young revellers celebrating.
Investigation and Identification Process Underway
Authorities have stated it is too early to determine the exact cause of the fire. However, witness accounts and mobile phone footage suggest the inferno may have started when sparklers or flares attached to champagne bottles, used as part of a staff "show," ignited the basement ceiling.
Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais regional government, described the identification process as a "terrible and sensitive" task. Experts are using dental and DNA samples to identify the badly burned victims. "Nothing can be told to the families unless we are 100% sure," he stated. Public prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud confirmed "significant resources" were deployed to identify victims and return them to families swiftly, a process police chief Frédéric Gisler said could take several days.
International Victims and Critical Injuries
The victims are believed to be of many nationalities. France's foreign ministry reported nine French nationals were injured and eight missing. Italy confirmed six of its nationals are missing and thirteen hospitalised. Australia said one of its citizens was injured.
Regional health official Stéphane Ganzer revealed the scale of the injuries, noting several victims were not yet identified and many were critical. "I think a large number of the injured, maybe between 80 and 100, are in a life-threatening condition," Ganzer said. He explained that when over 15% of an adult's body suffers third-degree burns, the risk of death in the following hours and days is severe.
The EU has offered medical assistance, while French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed some injured were being treated in French hospitals. Others were transferred to Germany.
Community in Mourning and Safety Questions Raised
The close-knit community of Crans-Montana has been left stunned by the disaster. Hundreds gathered in silent vigil near the scene on Thursday night, with a growing mound of floral tributes and messages outside the charred bar. One tribute read, "Rest in peace among the stars."
Investigators will examine whether the bar met safety standards, with attention on the basement ceiling material. Ganzer noted that while similar flares are common in discos across Europe, the investigation must determine if the ceiling's cladding was safe.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who visited the resort, announced five days of national mourning, calling it one of the most traumatic events in the country's history. As the community grieves, the focus remains on supporting the injured and identifying the lost in a tragedy that has shocked the Alpine nation and the world.
