CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — A devastating fire erupted during a New Year celebration at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, causing significant casualties less than two hours after midnight on Thursday. Authorities reported that dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others are injured, many of them seriously, according to local police.
Crans-Montana is renowned for its international skiing and golfing opportunities, with the bar’s lively celebration suddenly transforming into a scene of chaos and tragedy. Police commander Frédéric Gisler stated that “several tens of people” are presumed dead, while efforts to identify the victims and inform their families are underway, a process that may take considerable time.
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud mentioned that it is currently premature to ascertain the cause of the fire, as experts have not yet been able to assess the wreckage. She clarified that there is no indication of an attack involved in this incident.
Witness accounts from the scene shed light on the horrific events. Some individuals reported seeing a barman carrying a barmaid who was holding a lit candle in a bottle, which ignited the wooden ceiling of the bar. The flames rapidly spread, leading to the collapse of the ceiling. Chaos ensued as patrons attempted to escape from a crowded basement nightclub, where a crowd surge occurred amidst panic and confusion.
One witness likened the terrifying escape to a horror movie, while others described the desperation of parents rushing to the scene, fearing for their children trapped inside. Some patrons were seen smashing windows to flee the raging inferno, sustaining serious injuries in the process. Fire officials suspect that combustible gases released during the blaze ignited violently, causing what is referred to as a flashover or backdraft, exacerbating the situation.
This tragic event was particularly severe for the local medical facilities, with the regional hospital’s intensive care unit and operating theaters reaching full capacity due to the overwhelming number of injured individuals. Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government of the Valais Canton, expressed that “this evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare.”
Crans-Montana, located less than 5 kilometers from Sierre, has previously faced its own tragedies. In 2012, a bus crash in a Swiss tunnel resulted in the deaths of 28 people, predominantly children. The region is currently brimming with tourists enjoying skiing, prompting authorities to urge caution in the coming days to prevent additional accidents that could strain already overwhelmed medical resources.
As the local community mourns, Swiss President Guy Parmelin extended heartfelt condolences through a social media post, emphasizing that his thoughts are with the victims and their families. Parmelin, who took office on the same day, postponed a traditional New Year’s address to honor the families affected by this tragedy.
The catastrophe echoes a similar incident from 25 years ago in Volendam, Netherlands, where a New Year’s Eve celebration turned deadly, claiming 14 lives and injuring over 200 people. The incident at the bar in Crans-Montana serves as a somber reminder of the potential dangers present even in moments of joy and celebration.
