Crans-Montana ski resort tragedy: What caused the deadly fire and explosion at Le Constellation Bar
As authorities try to determine what caused a fire at a luxury ski resort bar in Switzerland that killed nearly 40 people and injured more than 100, the actions of bar staff are being examined.
Le Constellation Bar in the luxurious Crans-Montana ski resort was packed with New Year’s Eve revelers from all over the world, most of them aged 15 to 20. The fatal fire broke out around 1.30pm, triggering one of the worst tragedies in Swiss history.
The basement bar burst into flames, with witnesses reporting hearing explosions that resembled a bomb explosion.
What caused the Le Constellation fire?
Béatrice Pilloud, Attorney General of the canton of Valais, told a news conference that the explosion was probably caused by a “flash” in which the build-up of extreme heat in a closed space caused everything in the room to ignite almost simultaneously.
He said the exact cause of the fire was still being investigated, but there was no possibility of an attack.
“There are many circumstances that need to be clarified, various hypotheses have been put forward. The main theory we are giving priority to is a flash that caused a rapid explosion. A large number of eyewitnesses have been interviewed and there are phones recovered for analysis.”
He said no one was arrested.
“We do not have any suspects at the moment. An investigation has been opened not against anyone, but to shed light on the circumstances of this dramatic fire.”
Le Constellation was equipped with wooden furniture and foam-style ceiling material and had only one narrow staircase for revelers trying to escape.
champagne sparklers
Eyewitnesses say that the fire was caused by a sparkler stuck in a champagne bottle. A female bartender reportedly grabbed the bottle while it was being carried on the shoulders of a male bartender and set the bar’s ceiling on fire.
Flames quickly engulfed the ceiling and walls within seconds, filling the bar with black smoke and causing a stampede of patrons whose only means of escape were to climb a narrow staircase or break a window.
Promotional footage of Le Constellation, shot last year, shows workers at the bar carrying bottles of champagne along with sparklers through the low-ceilinged club.
SEE IMAGES IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
Witness Victoria told French broadcaster BFMTV: “The explosion was caused by firework candles inside a champagne bottle. The entire ceiling of the bar caught fire.”
Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old Parisian who survived the fire, said there was “complete chaos” inside the bar. He told the AP that one of his friends was dead and “two or three people” were missing.
He said he didn’t see the fire start but saw waiters arrive with champagne bottles and sparklers.
The terrifying escape of eyewitnesses
Clavier said he felt like he was suffocating and first hid behind a table, then ran upstairs and tried to use the table to break the plexiglass window. It fell out of its box, causing it to escape.
One of the many people injured in the tragedy has been confirmed to be Australian.
Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government of the Canton of Valais, said the number of injured was so high that the intensive care unit and operating room at the regional hospital quickly reached full capacity.
“Tonight was supposed to be a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” Reynard said.
Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler stated at a press conference that efforts were continuing to identify the victims and inform their families, adding that the society was “devastated”.
— from AP
