Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Claims Lives During New Year Celebration

A significant fire broke out during a New Year's Eve celebration at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, resulting in numerous casualties. Local police report that many individuals are presumed dead, with around 100 others suffering injuries, primarily severe burns.

The incident occurred at approximately 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) on Thursday, transforming what was a festive evening into a scene of devastation. An 18-year-old eyewitness, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted his harrowing experience as he attempted to rescue his younger brother. "I thought my little brother was inside, so I came and tried to break the window to help people to exit, and after that I went in," he told the BBC.

The young man described the chaos inside the bar, stating, "I saw people burning... I found people burning from head to foot, no clothes anymore. It was very shocking." He noted that he had frequented the bar throughout the week, reflecting on the tragedy that struck on a night he had planned to enjoy.

Firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived promptly to manage the situation, but the eyewitness also provided assistance by offering water and clothing to the injured individuals.

Just moments before the fire erupted, locals and visitors were celebrating the turn of the year in one of the busiest holiday seasons for the Alpine ski region. Le Constellation, which has a capacity of around 300, was filled with patrons at the time of the incident, although the exact number of people present remains unclear.

Two French women, Emma and Albane, who were inside the bar when the fire started, shared their account with French media outlet BFMTV. They suggested that the blaze ignited when a waitress placed "birthday candles" on champagne bottles. The women recalled, "In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood," highlighting how quickly the flames spread.

They described the evacuation as extremely challenging, noting that the exit route from their location was narrow, and the stairs leading outside were even more constricted. "We were very lucky," they stated, adding that approximately 200 people were trying to escape within a short time frame through the limited exit.

Another teenager present during the incident described his attempt to escape from a "wall of heat" and his struggle to break a window using a table before managing to exit through the shattered glass.

The local hospital's intensive care unit quickly reached capacity, necessitating the transfer of some patients to facilities in Milan, Italy, for further treatment. Oleh Paska, a visitor in Crans-Montana with his family, recounted hearing what he initially thought were firecrackers before realising the seriousness of the situation when emergency services arrived.

"We had just celebrated the New Year in our hotel room, about 50 metres from the bar, when we heard a series of explosions," he explained. The area, usually bustling with tourists, was left in a state of shock following the tragic event.

Italy's ambassador to Switzerland has indicated that the identification of victims may take weeks due to the severity of their injuries. Meanwhile, anxious friends and family members await updates on their loved ones. One Italian individual expressed concern for his friends, revealing that one was severely burned while another was transported to Zurich by helicopter. "Another friend of ours... we had no news last night, he couldn't be found," he said, emphasising the distress experienced by those connected to the victims. "My friends and I haven't slept, we've barely eaten," he added, capturing the emotional toll of the incident.