Dozens of people were killed and more than 100 others injured after a fire tore through a packed bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, as revellers gathered to celebrate the New Year.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as patrons attempted to smash windows to escape the flames, while others, suffering from severe burns, stumbled into the street.
Emergency services rushed to the resort in the Wallis canton shortly after the blaze erupted at around 1.30am at Le Constellation bar, a popular venue among tourists and young partygoers. The resort is scheduled to host a Ski World Cup event later this month.
Wallis police commander Frederic Gisler said authorities had initially counted about 40 fatalities and roughly 115 injured, most of them seriously. Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland later said the death toll had risen to 47, though Swiss police said the exact number had yet to be confirmed.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country’s history, calling it a disaster of “unprecedented and terrifying proportions”. He announced that national flags would be flown at half-mast for five days.
On Thursday evening, hundreds gathered in Crans-Montana for a church service and a candlelight vigil to honour the victims. Some attendees said they were still searching for missing loved ones.
Authorities said the cause of the fire remains under investigation but ruled out an attack. While early reports suggested an explosion triggered the blaze, prosecutors said preliminary findings indicate that the fire itself caused the explosion.
Witness accounts pointed to sparklers attached to champagne bottles, reportedly used by staff during celebrations, as a possible ignition source after they came into contact with the ceiling.
Hospitals across Switzerland quickly filled, with many critically injured victims transferred to specialised burns units in Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva. Some patients were also treated in neighbouring countries.
Swiss officials warned that identifying victims could take days or weeks due to the international makeup of the resort’s visitors. Several countries, including Italy and France, confirmed that their nationals were among the injured and missing.
Authorities have set up support centres to assist families searching for loved ones as the investigation continues.
