At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when a devastating fire tore through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana early on New Year’s Day. It turned celebrations into one of the country’s worst peacetime tragedies.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames engulfed Le Constellation bar shortly before 1:30 am. Revellers reportedly tried to smash windows to escape, while others, badly burned, stumbled into the street screaming for help. “People were running through the flames,” said one bystander, who saw chairs used to break windows in a desperate attempt to flee.
Swiss police said around 115 people were injured, most of them seriously, with victims transferred to specialised burn units in Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva and even abroad. Given Crans-Montana’s popularity with foreign tourists, authorities expect many of the victims to be non-Swiss nationals—including Italians and French citizens.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Prosecutors said early indications suggest the initial fire triggered an explosion. Several witnesses told media outlets that sparklers attached to champagne bottles appeared to ignite the wooden ceiling above. Officials stressed there was no sign of an attack.
Swiss president Guy Parmelin called the disaster “a calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions” and ordered flags flown at half-mast for five days, as mourners gathered in the icy Alpine night to lay flowers and light candles for the victims.
