English
Crans-Montana bar fire tragedy struck Switzerland early Thursday morning. This horrific Alpine resort blaze killed approximately 40 people. Another 115 guests suffered serious injuries during the New Year’s celebration. This Swiss nightclub inferno ranks among the nation’s worst disasters. Revelers faced a nightmare as flames engulfed Le Constellation bar. The disaster transformed a scene of joy into absolute devastation. Local authorities are now working to identify all the victims.
Frantic Escapes from the Flames
Witnesses described a terrifying scene around 1:30 a.m. The fire swept through the crowded venue shortly after midnight. Some survivors saw waitresses carrying champagne bottles with sparklers. Others reported a bartender holding a lit candle near the wooden ceiling. The structure ignited quickly, trapping many people inside the basement. Panicked guests rushed toward a narrow exit and a single staircase. This caused a deadly crowd surge in the smoke-filled nightclub.
Axel Clavier, age 16, survived by smashing a plexiglass window. He used a heavy table to force the window out. Axel described the internal scene as “total chaos.” Sadly, he lost at least one friend in the fire. Other guests broke windows to escape the intense heat. They likened the experience to a real-life horror movie.
Medical Resources Strained to Capacity
Regional hospitals quickly reached full capacity due to the high casualty count. The Valais Canton government reported that operating theaters were overwhelmed. Many victims suffered from severe burns and toxic smoke inhalation. Emergency teams flew several patients to specialized clinics across Switzerland. Authorities urged the public to exercise extreme caution today. They must preserve remaining medical resources for the fire victims.
Investigation into the Cause
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed investigators are already working. They currently rule out a deliberate terror attack. However, experts cannot enter the unstable wreckage yet. The fire involved a phenomenon called “embrasement generalise.” This term describes a violent flashover of combustible gases. This process caused the fire to spread with lethal speed. The Crans-Montana bar fire tragedy remains an active crime scene.
A Community in Mourning
Crans-Montana sits near Sierre, the site of a 2022 tragedy. That bus crash killed 28 people, including many children. Now, the community faces another massive loss of life. The resort usually hosts world-class athletes and golfers. It remains a key stop for the World Cup circuit. Downhill racers will arrive soon for final pre-Olympic events.
