A New Year’s Eve celebration in a Swiss ski resort turned into a mass tragedy after a fast-moving fire ripped through a packed bar, killing at least 40 people and leaving scores more with life-threatening injuries.
The blaze broke out at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where a mostly young crowd had gathered to ring in the new year, as per Reuters. By Friday, Swiss authorities confirmed that 119 people had been injured, many suffering severe burns, with dozens transferred to specialised burn units in hospitals across Europe.
Officials said the scale of the injuries has complicated efforts to identify victims, warning that it could take days before all those who died are formally named. Investigators are still working through the remains, describing the process as extremely delicate due to the severity of the burns.
Early findings point to so-called fountain or sparkler candles, often attached to champagne bottles, as the likely cause. Prosecutors believe the burning candles were lifted too close to the ceiling, triggering an almost instantaneous and uncontrollable fire. While this theory is considered the most probable explanation, it has not yet been definitively confirmed.
Authorities are also examining whether insulation foam in the ceiling accelerated the spread of the flames, turning the bar into a death trap within moments. Prosecutors said further inquiries would determine whether criminal negligence played a role.
Local officials revealed that around 50 of the injured have been, or are expected to be, moved to burn units in other European countries, including Germany and France. Many of those hospitalised remain in critical condition. Of the victims identified so far, most are Swiss nationals, alongside French, Italian and several others from across Europe.
Survivors described terrifying scenes as smoke filled the venue and visibility dropped to almost nothing. One man who escaped from the basement said he overturned a table to shield himself from the flames, choking on smoke as he tried to find a way out. With exits blocked by panicked crowds, he eventually smashed a window to escape.
The tragedy has sparked desperate searches for missing young people, with families and friends gathering near the cordoned-off site hoping for news. One of the first victims to be publicly identified was 16-year-old Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini, whose death prompted tributes from the Italian Golf Federation.
Foreign governments have confirmed that several of their citizens are among the injured and missing. Italy reported multiple nationals hospitalised and others unaccounted for, while French authorities said some of their citizens were still missing following the fire.
As shock gripped the resort, mourners laid flowers and lit candles near the closed-off bar. Many young people who narrowly avoided the venue said they were struggling to process how close they came to being caught in the inferno, calling it a tragedy that has scarred the community and shaken Switzerland.
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