Around 40 killed and 115 injured in New Year’s Eve bar fire at Swiss ski resort

About 40 people were killed and 115 injured when a fire broke out during a New Year’s Eve party at the Constellation Bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, Swiss authorities said. Most of the victims are thought to be young, and officials warned that identifying bodies could take several days because many suffered severe burns.

Dental and DNA records are being used to help with identification. The blaze began at roughly 1.30am local time and quickly engulfed the basement bar, trapping dozens of people. Emergency services arrived minutes later but were unable to save many of those inside. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of partygoers fleeing smoke and flames, with some people “walking on everybody trying to escape.” There were reports of people with hair burned off and others without clothes.

Video from inside the bar showed flames spreading rapidly along the ceiling and burning material falling down. Someone in the footage is seen trying to put out the fire with a shirt, but the flames continued to spread. The cause of the fire remains unclear. Some witnesses reported sparklers or candles in bottles being used in the basement, but Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said it was too early to determine what sparked the blaze.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the incident “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever known,” and King Charles described it as a “horrific disaster.” Switzerland will observe five days of mourning.

Key Topics

Business, World, Switzerland, Fire, Crans-montana, Ski Resort, Casualties