Switzerland’s president has called the fire ‘one of the worst tragedies’ in the country’s history – Image: Denis Balibouse/REUTERS
At least 40 people died and over 100 others were injured, police say, after a fire tore through a bar in Switzerland during New Year’s celebrations. Switzerland’s president has said most of the victims were young.
What you need to know
- A fire broke out during a New Year’s Eve party in a bar that is popular with tourists and young people
- Around 40 people have died and 115 have been injured, Swiss police say
- Swiss President Guy Parmelin says most of the victims were young people
- Officials have ruled out an attack, but it is not clear how the fire started
- The accident occurred in Crans-Montana, an upscale ski resort in the Swiss Alps
The fire reportedly started on the dancefloor in the basement of ‘Le Constellation’ – Image: Jean-Christophe Bott/dpa/picture alliance
Crans-Montana fire probably led to explosion, Swiss investigators say
Swiss investigators have said that the deadly fire that broke out at a bar in the Swiss Alps likely caused an explosion.
Police have ruled out an attack, but were still probing the incident to learn what caused the fire.
Initial reports on Thursday morning said a fire had started after an explosion was heard.
“There are several hypotheses, but our main theory is that the entire room caught fire, leading to an explosion,” Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud told reporters.
Mobile phones found at the scene were being examined, she said.
Pilloud also declined to comment on reports that the fire was started by lit candles stuck in champagne bottles or fireworks.
Crans-Montana is one of the winter sports centers of Switzerland’s ski-crazy Valais region – Image: Police Cantonale Valaisanne/AP Photo/picture alliance
Identifying victims will take time, Swiss authorities say
Swiss officials have warned that identifying the victims of the fire will be a lengthy process.
Valais regional president Matthias Reynard has said that there are “many seriously injured people, many with severe burns.”
He also cautioned that “identifying the bodies, including those of the injured, may take some time.”
Reynard said he had just met with some of the victims’ families. “Many are still waiting for information. This is a terrible moment,” he said.
In remarks to reporters, Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who was in Crans-Montana with Reynard, said, “We are devastated.”
“There will be inquiries so that we can find out how this tragedy could have happened. We owe it to the victims to find out the causes,” Parmelin added.
The Swiss president also thanked neighboring countries France, Germany and Italy for offering to help with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Germany’s Merz reacts to ‘deeply distressing’ bar fire
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said his thoughts are with those affected by the fire in Crans-Montana and their loved ones.
“A moment of joy turned into tragedy in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. These events are deeply distressing,” Merz said, adding that he wishes the more than 115 injured people a full and swift recovery.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has also reacted to the news, saying he is “deeply shocked” by the accident.
Macron pledges ‘full solidarity and fraternal support’ to Switzerland
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has sent Switzerland his country’s “full solidarity and fraternal support to Switzerland, its people, and its authorities” in the wake of the Crans-Montana blaze.
“Deep emotion after the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and those injured,” Macron said on X.
Parmelin visited the scene with the regional Valais president Mathias Reynard (left) – Image: Alessandro Della Valle/REUTERS
Fire is ‘one of worst tragedies’ in Switzerland’s history, president says
Switzerland’s President Guy Parmelin has visited the site of the deadly fire at Crans-Montana, which he called “one of the worst tragedies” in the country’s history.
Parmelin and Valais Canton president Mathias Reynard viewed the damage from the blaze at La Constellation bar, where some 40 people celebrating New Year’s Eve died and 100 were injured.
The bar is popular with young people and tourists.
Parmelin confirmed to reporters that many of the victims are youth.
“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Reynard.
He added that there were so many injured people that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital were quickly at full capacity.
Some of the burn victims will be transferred to neighboring countries, Reynard said.
Swiss President Parmelin has said most of the victims were young people – Image: Tom Pham Van Suu/MAXPPP/picture alliance
Witnesses describe chaos in Swiss nightclub fire
Witnesses have described scenes of panic and confusion during the deadly fire at a bar and nightclub in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana.
Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when a barman was carrying a barmaid on his shoulders, with the barmaid holding a lit candle inside a bottle.
They said the candle ignited the wooden ceiling, with flames spreading rapidly before the ceiling collapsed.
One of the women described a crowd surge as people desperately tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a narrow staircase and through a small exit.
Another witness told BFMTV that people smashed windows to get out as smoke and flames filled the venue.
He said some were badly injured and described parents rushing to the scene by car, trying to find out whether their children were trapped inside.
The witness said he saw about 20 people struggling to escape the smoke and fire and compared the scene to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.
Initial investigation rules out attack, officials say
Investigators have said the deadly fire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana was an accident, officials said.
Stephane Ganzer, the Valais state councillor responsible for security, said initial findings and witness statements showed the blaze was not caused by an explosive device.
Public Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud has also said an attack could be ruled out as the cause of the deadly fire and explosion.
(DW.com/NAN 2-1-25)
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