At least 40 people were killed and around 115 injured, many critically, after a devastating fire tore through a packed bar during New Year celebrations at the Crans-Montana ski resort in the Swiss Alps, police said.
The blaze broke out less than two hours after midnight at Le Constellation, a popular bar that was crowded with revelers welcoming the New Year. Authorities said the exact number of victims is still being determined, as identification efforts are ongoing. Switzerland has declared five days of national mourning following what is being described as one of the country’s worst peacetime tragedies in decades.
Community in Shock, Cause Still Unknown
Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said investigators are focused on identifying victims and notifying families, warning the process could take several days.
“The community is devastated,” Gisler said at a press briefing.
Valais Canton Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire, as experts have not yet been able to enter the wreckage safely.
“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud stressed, adding that no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.
Investigators have also not confirmed how many people were inside the bar at the time. The venue’s maximum capacity will form part of the inquiry.
Foreign Nationals Among Victims
Italian authorities confirmed that 13 Italian citizens were injured, while six others remain unaccounted for, according to Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado. One missing Italian, Giovanni Tamburi, prompted a public appeal from his mother, who said hospitals had provided no information about his fate.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he planned to visit the site, as several injured Italians were transferred from Switzerland to hospitals in Milan.
Survivors Describe Chaos and Desperation
Witnesses and survivors recounted terrifying scenes as flames spread rapidly through the bar.
Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old tourist from Paris, said panic erupted as smoke filled the room.
“It was total chaos,” he said. One of his friends died, while others were still missing.
Clavier said he escaped only after smashing through a plexiglass window, leaving behind his belongings. “I’m still alive,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
Other witnesses told French broadcaster BFMTV that sparks or open flames used during celebrations may have ignited the wooden ceiling. Some described a deadly bottleneck as people tried to flee through a narrow staircase and exit door from the basement nightclub.
Several survivors compared the scene to a horror movie, with people breaking windows to escape and injured victims collapsing outside as parents rushed desperately to find their children.
Hospitals Overwhelmed
The scale of the disaster quickly overwhelmed medical facilities. Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais regional government, said intensive care units and operating theaters reached full capacity within hours.
“What should have been a moment of celebration turned into a nightmare,” Reynard said.
Authorities urged residents and tourists to exercise caution in the coming days to avoid further strain on emergency services.
A Global Resort in Mourning
Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most prestigious ski and golf destinations, sits high in the Alps and regularly hosts World Cup ski races and international sporting events. The resort is scheduled to host major downhill races ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, marking his first day in office, expressed condolences to victims and families and postponed his New Year’s national address out of respect.
The tragedy has drawn comparisons to other New Year’s Eve fires in Europe, including the deadly Volendam cafe fire in the Netherlands in 2000.
As investigations continue, Switzerland mourns lives lost in a night meant for celebration but forever marked by tragedy.
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