A catastrophic fire at a popular bar in a Swiss Alps ski resort has left dozens dead and scores injured, turning New Year's Eve celebrations into a scene of tragedy. The blaze tore through the packed Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The fire erupted at approximately 1:30am local time (0030 GMT) as revellers inside the crowded venue were welcoming the new year. Swiss police believe about 40 people have died, a figure confirmed by the Italian foreign ministry. In addition, approximately 100 people were injured, many of them seriously.
Frédéric Gisler, the Valais canton police commander, described the scene as devastating, telling a news conference that identifying the victims would take time due to the severity of their burns. The victims are thought to be from several different nations.
Local reports described a party in full swing with music and champagne before the disaster struck. A tourist from New York captured footage of bright orange flames pouring from the building and reported seeing people running and screaming in the dark.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The emergency services response was immediate and large-scale. Ambulances and helicopters rushed to the scene to ferry the injured to hospitals. The regional hospitals in Valais quickly reached full capacity, declaring a state of emergency, with patients distributed to medical centres across Switzerland.
Investigators have moved swiftly to determine the cause. Public prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud stated there is no indication of terrorism or arson. Officials used the term "embrasement généralisé" to describe the fire's rapid spread, a phenomenon akin to a flashover where combustible gases ignite violently.
While the official cause remains under investigation, Swiss media have reported that the fire may have started due to pyrotechnics used during a concert. Notably, the municipality had banned public fireworks due to a recent lack of rainfall.
Aftermath and Community Shock
The upscale resort of Crans-Montana, located about 40km north-west of Zermatt, has been left reeling. Mathias Rénard, head of the regional government, said the evening that should have been a celebration "turned into a nightmare".
Hours after the fire was extinguished, ambulances remained parked outside the bar, its windows broken, with a persistent smell of burning in the air. The focus for authorities is now on the painstaking process of victim identification and supporting the families of those affected, as the international community mourns the loss.
