Le Constellation bar fire in Switzerland: what we know so far | Switzerland
Dozens of people are estimated to have died and nearly 100 people were injured, many seriously, when a fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss Alps during a New Year’s celebration at a luxury ski resort.
Fire also shook Le Constellation, a packed bar in Crans-Montana, one of Europe’s top ski resorts, about 40 km northwest of Zermatt, early on Thursday.
In the statement made by the Italian foreign ministry, it was stated that Swiss police believe that approximately 40 people died. The victims are believed to have come from many countries.
Investigators said there were no signs of terrorism or arson. The ministry added that the victims could not be immediately identified due to the severity of the burns.
Valais canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said efforts were ongoing to identify the victims and inform their families, but “it will take time and it is too early to give you a more precise figure.”
“We are devastated,” Gisler said at a news conference.
What happened?
The fire ravaged Le Constellation at around 01:30 (0030 GMT) while revelers in the packed bar were celebrating the new year.
“The party was in full swing… music and champagne were flowing freely,” a local resident told 24 heures, a Lausanne newspaper, who said he lived nearby.
Ambulances were parked outside the pub hours later and broken glass could be seen. Local media reported that there was “a burning smell still in the air”.
A tourist from New York filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar and told AFP he saw people running and screaming in the dark.
“This evening was supposed to be a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Rénard, head of the regional government.
How many people were injured?
It is stated that dozens of people died and nearly 100 people were injured in the fire.
Hospitals in nearby Valais were full and an emergency was declared, with the injured transferred to various hospitals in Switzerland.
Authorities said helicopters and ambulances were sent to the scene from many countries to help the victims. Rénard said that the intensive care unit and operating room at the regional hospital quickly reached full capacity.
What caused this?
Investigators said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire because experts were unable to penetrate the debris. However, experts said there were no signs of terrorism or arson.
“There is no question of any attack in any case,” said Beatrice Pilloud, prosecutor of the canton of Valais.
Authorities say the fire that ripped through the crowded bar was “generalizationA firefighting term that describes how a fire can trigger the release of flammable gases that can then ignite violently, causing what English-speaking firefighters would call flashover or backdraft.
According to its website, the municipality, with a population of 10,000, banned New Year’s Eve fireworks due to low rainfall last month. However, Swiss media claimed that the fire may have started due to the use of pyrotechnics during the concert.
Agence France-Presse and the AP contributed to this report.
