Waitress paraded sparkler-topped champagne bottle through bar seconds before blaze
Credit: via X
New Year’s party is in full swing when tragedy strikes.
As nearly 200 revelers celebrated in the packed basement of Le Constellation Bar, a bartender carrying a champagne bottle topped with a sparkler moved through the crowd.
Eyewitnesses said the bartender, who was being carried on the shoulders of a colleague, held the bottle above his head near the basement ceiling and set it on fire.
In the footage, flames can be seen spreading rapidly along the ceiling above the bar as music continued to play at around 1.30pm local time on New Year’s Day.
A crowd of party-goers, largely aged between 15 and 20, rushed to escape through a single door and up a narrow staircase. As the fire began to spread to the ground floor, others tried to break windows to escape.
At least 40 people died and 115 people were injured. Witnesses said most of the victims were believed to have been trapped in the bar’s basement, with reports suggesting there were no adequate emergency exits.
Credit: via X
Police are investigating whether the bar, which was seen to be packed in the videos, exceeded the limit on the number of legal customers. In the videos, young people can be seen running out of the place as the fire spread.
French witness Emma stated that the fire spread “within seconds”, telling French news channel BFMTV: “Some of the bottles were close to the ceiling and caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We all ran outside screaming and crying.”
“I saw a young man writhing in pain on the ground. His body and hair were badly burned and half his face was gone. I think he must be dead.”
Parents rushed to the scene from all over the town, trying to find out whether their children were trapped inside.
The luxury resort town of Crans-Montana, 40 km north of the Matterhorn mountain and about 250 km from Zurich, is popular with tourists from Britain and elsewhere who travel there for the skiing and party atmosphere.
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Eyewitnesses said Le Constellation, described by some as “the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve” in town, was packed with young people, mostly aged 15 to 20.
According to one witness, “The party was in full swing… music and champagne flowing freely.”
Burning sparklers in bottles in the cramped spaces of the basement was even featured in the promotional video of the venue previously published on social media.
It showed helmet-wearing waiters walking through the club waving pyrotechnics from Dom Perignon champagne bottles perilously close to the beamed ceiling.
Credit: YouTube / Constellation Crans Montana
Another witness, named Albane, said he saw the ceiling catch fire after the firework in the bottle was lit. “This was clearly accidental,” he added.
A young man watching from across the street said he saw about 20 people scrambling to escape the smoke and flames.
Likening what he witnessed to “a horror movie”, he told The Telegraph: “We’re in a bad situation. Apparently there were sparklers. They should be banned.”
“How did this happen? Then I heard screams. People ran everywhere, followed by firefighters.”
Regarding the firecrackers that caused the fire, a bus driver told The Telegraph: “They are banned in many clubs and should never be allowed near crowded places. It’s an absolute tragedy.”
Narrow stairs leading up from the basement at Le Constellation
The local government of Crans-Montana last month banned fireworks and sparklers during New Year’s celebrations over concerns that a lack of rain had left conditions dangerously dry and increased the risk of fires growing and spreading rapidly.
A local reported loud explosions coming from the vicinity of Le Constellation.
“I heard a lot of big explosions that sounded like bombs exploding. It was crazy,” they said. “I live hundreds of meters away from the bar. I heard screams, screams and people running.”
Eyewitness Adrien, who was outside the bar when the fire broke out, described the horror of watching those inside flee for their lives. He said: “There was a young man with burns on the pavement outside and he kept saying ‘I’m hurting, I’m in pain, please call an ambulance’.”
While helicopters and ambulances were dispatched to the scene, emergency services from neighboring countries were dispatched to assist in the rescue operation.
The intensive care unit and operating room of the regional hospital were overflowing with victims. Those with the most severe burns were sent to university hospitals in Switzerland.
As the extent of the tragedy quickly became apparent, authorities urged residents to remain vigilant in the coming days to avoid further pressure on the healthcare system.
Credit: TikTok / ladzdrie92i
Michela Ris, deputy mayor of the Swiss town of Ascona, who was in Crans-Montana to celebrate New Year’s Eve, told how she was frantically looking for friends on New Year’s morning.
“Some of my acquaintances told me that young people left the bar covered in blood, some without their clothes. It was a real bloodbath,” he told Swiss media.
“We have friends who do not respond to messages. Maybe they are just sleeping, but we do not know whether they went directly home after arriving at our house or maybe they went to the club where the tragedy took place to have one last drink.
“We are very concerned and are trying to contact everyone individually to make sure they are OK. We are devastated.”
Approximately 50 family members were waiting for news of their loved ones missing.
As morning broke, townspeople and travelers gathered outside the building; many were in tears, distraught over the events of the night in their town.
As a period of mourning was declared in the region, regional government head Mathias Rénard told reporters: “This evening was supposed to be a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare.”
