Deadly New Year blaze at Swiss ski resort kills about 40, injures 115

About 40 people were killed and 115 injured in a fire at a New Year's Eve party in the Constellation Bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort. The blaze broke out at roughly 1.30am local time and is thought to have trapped many partygoers in the basement; emergency services arrived minutes later but were unable to save dozens.

Most victims are believed to be young. Severe burns mean identification of the dead will take several days and authorities are using dental and DNA records. 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".

The country will observe five days of mourning. The cause remains unclear. Witnesses reported seeing sparklers or candles in bottles in the basement, but Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said it was too early to determine the cause and experts have not yet been able to enter the charred wreckage.

Witnesses described panic, with people "walking on everybody" to escape, some with hair burned off and others without clothes. Video showed flames quickly engulfing the ceiling and burning material falling, and attempts to beat out the fire appeared to make it spread. Ambulances and helicopters airlifted victims to hospitals.

Key Topics

World, France, Switzerland, Fire, Crans-montana, Ski Resort, New Year's Eve