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Fire erupts during New Year's Eve celebrations in Crans-Montana
A devastating blaze at a popular bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 115 others in the early hours of Thursday, authorities confirmed. The fire broke out at approximately 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) during a New Year's Eve gathering, turning festivities into chaos.
Witnesses describe harrowing scenes inside burning bar
An 18-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC he was near the venue, called Le Constellation, when he heard a loud explosion followed by thick smoke. Believing his younger brother was inside, he attempted to break a window to help others escape before entering the building.
Inside, he encountered a nightmarish scene. "I saw people burning... I found people burning from head to foot, with no clothes left," he recounted. "It was very shocking." His brother, fortunately, was unharmed. The witness later assisted emergency responders by providing water and clothing to the injured.
Survivors recount rapid spread of flames and frantic escape
Two French women, Emma and Albane, who were inside the bar when the fire started, told BFMTV they believed the blaze began after a waitress placed birthday candles on champagne bottles. "Within seconds, the entire wooden ceiling was engulfed," they said. "The flames spread incredibly fast."
Evacuation proved extremely difficult due to narrow exits. "We were very lucky," the women added, estimating around 200 people tried to flee through tight stairwells within 30 seconds.
A teenage survivor described hiding from a "wall of heat" before smashing a window with his foot to escape. Another student who arrived as people fled the scene helped usher injured individuals into a nearby restaurant, where they waited for ambulances. "Everywhere hurts," one victim told him. "Some were just screaming. Others lay silent on the floor."
Emergency response and ongoing investigations
Firefighters and paramedics quickly arrived on the scene, but the nearest hospital's intensive care unit was overwhelmed. Some patients were transferred to facilities in Milan, Italy, for treatment. Italian authorities warned that identifying victims could take weeks due to the severity of burns.
Oleh Paska, a tourist staying near the bar, initially mistook the explosions for firecrackers. "We heard screams outside and thought it was a fight," he told the BBC. "It wasn't until we heard the sirens that we realized something terrible had happened."
Daniella, a Milan resident with a holiday home nearby, witnessed the aftermath firsthand. "People were running in all directions, screaming and crying. I saw stretchers carrying victims away," she said. "A young man told me he'd seen hell-things he'd never forget."
Community reels from tragedy as families await news
An atmosphere of shock gripped Crans-Montana on Thursday as the resort, typically bustling with New Year's revelers, grappled with the disaster. Friends and relatives of those inside the bar spent the day anxiously awaiting updates.
An Italian man told Rai News that one of his friends was "burned all over," while another was airlifted to Zurich. "We haven't slept or eaten since last night," he said. "Another friend is still missing."
Le Constellation, a two-story bar with a terrace, can accommodate around 300 people, though the exact number inside at the time of the fire remains unknown.
