Switzerland has declared five days of national mourning following a devastating fire that tore through a nightclub during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing around 47 people and leaving at least 115 injured, many with critical burns.
The blaze broke out at around 1:30am on January 1 at Le Constellation, a popular multi-level bar and nightclub in the canton of Valais. Most of the victims were young people aged between 16 and 26..
Authorities have confirmed that the victims included several foreign nationals, with French and Italian citizens among those reported missing or injured.
New Year tragedy: Blast at Swiss resort bar claims multiple lives
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country’s history. As a mark of respect, flags are being flown at half-mast on federal buildings across Switzerland.
According to witness accounts, the fire was sparked when a champagne “fountain candle” ignited the venue’s wooden ceiling, triggering a flashover, a sudden and violent ignition of combustible gases, which led to explosions and rapidly engulfed the bar.
Investigators and regional prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud have ruled out terrorism or any deliberate act, calling it a tragic accident.
A large-scale rescue operation was launched, involving 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances, and around 150 emergency personnel.
Hospitals in nearby Sion were quickly overwhelmed, forcing authorities to transfer severely injured burn victims to specialist centers in Lausanne, Zurich, Geneva, and abroad, including Milan and France.
The nation continues to grieve as investigations into safety standards and fire prevention measures at the venue remain underway.
