Celebrations in a Crans-Montana bar’s New Year celebration turned to scenes from a ‘horror movie’, according to witnesses, as ‘tens’ have died with 100 others injured
A major incident has shocked the world as New Year celebration turned to horror scenes after a suspected explosion has killed ‘tens’ of people and seen another 100 injured at a Swiss Alpine resort.
A fire ripped through a Crans-Montana bar’s New Year celebration less than two hours after midnight Thursday (January 1), with police saying the victims suffered serious injuries.
Horror scenes from the crowded Le Constellation bar have been shared online showing the fire engulfing the property in what potentially could be one of Switzerland’s worst tragedies.
Police are still conducting an investigation into the cause and are yet to release an official figure of the death toll or the age of the victims, but here is what we know about the horror incident so far.
’40 people dead’ in fatal blaze
Although official figures have not been released by police, the Italian foreign ministry have claimed “40 people” have been killed in the disaster.
“Several tens of people” were killed at the bar, according to Valais Canton police commander Frederic Gisler said during a news conference.
Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families but “that will take time and for the time being it is premature to give you a more precise figure,” Gisler said, adding that the community is “devastated.”
At least two French nationals were among the dead, as President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences.
He said on X: “Deep emotion after the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and the injured.
“To Switzerland, its people and its authorities, I extend France’s full solidarity and our fraternal support.”
Around 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances and 150 responders were sent to the scene to help the wounded.
Fire crews have also been working around the clock at the scene since the tragedy occurred.
People ‘smashed windows to escape’
Witnesses have described the horror scenes as people were trying to escape the property, especially from the basement nightclub.
One woman described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape up a narrow flight of stairs and through a narrow door.
Meanwhile another witness, speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, described people smashing windows to escape the blaze.
She also claimed to see panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.
One young man described the scenes as being like from a horror movies as around 20 people came scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames.
What was the cause? – the sparkler-lit champagne theory
Police have yet to determine a cause of the blaze but witness comments have sparked theories that it could have involved sparkler-lit champagne bottles used during celebrations at Le Constellation bar.
Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, two women claim that they were inside bar when the fire first began and saw what happened..
They allege that a barman was carrying a barmaid on his shoulders while she was holding a lit candle in a bottle, which some believe was a sparkler.
This touched the wooden ceiling and caused it to catch on fire. The flames quickly spread and collapsed the ceiling, they told the broadcaster.
A promotional video from Le Constellation bar in 2024 shows the sparklers used inside the bar.
However, this theory is yet to be confirmed by officials or police.
Officials did state that the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft, according to AP.
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