A horrific fire tore through a packed bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day, resulting in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries. The blaze at Le Constellation bar claimed at least 40 lives and left more than 100 people injured, according to reports from AFP.
Panic and a Single Exit
Disturbing videos shared on social media platforms captured the sheer panic and intensity of the fire in the picturesque town. The footage showed patrons trapped inside the bar, with the main exit compromised by the rapidly spreading flames. In one clip, a man is seen desperately trying to beat back the fire from the ceiling with a large white cloth. Other videos depict chaotic scenes of people screaming and scrambling to find an escape route.
The basement venue where the fire is believed to have originated had a critical design flaw: only a single staircase exit. This bottleneck forced terrified partygoers into a frantic scramble as flames and toxic smoke filled the space. Horrified eyewitnesses described scenes of utter "panic," with some attempting to break windows to get out, while others, severely burned, stumbled onto the street.
Investigation into the Cause
Police commander Frederic Gisler stated that smoke was first spotted emanating from the bar at around 1:30 am local time (0030 GMT) on January 1. The fire department was immediately alerted and responded swiftly, managing to contain the blaze quickly as emergency teams attended to the wounded.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation but have cautioned against early speculation. However, several witness accounts given to Swiss, French, and Italian media point to a potential cause. They suggest the fire may have started when sparklers mounted on champagne bottles, part of a regular show for special orders, came too close to the ceiling.
"I think there were some waitresses with champagne bottles and little sparklers. They got too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it all caught fire," said a witness named Axel, who was inside the bar at the time.
Safety Standards Under Scrutiny
The probe will now rigorously examine whether all safety protocols were followed. The bar, located on the ground floor of a residential building, had a capacity of 300 people, with space for another 40 on its terrace. Crucially, witnesses described the staircase connecting the basement to the ground floor as "narrow."
Seventeen-year-old Bruno Martins recounted arriving to meet friends only to find the bar engulfed. "It was total panic, people were trampling each other," he said, noting that at least one friend suffered severe burns.
Wallis chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud, who visited the scene, emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. She questioned what constitutes a narrow staircase and stated it was "too early" to comment on whether emergency exits met requirements or if proper procedures were followed for the New Year's event. The bar's owners, French nationals from Corsica, are reported safe but have been unreachable since the tragedy.
The resort of Crans-Montana is scheduled to host the prestigious Ski World Cup starting January 30, casting a somber shadow over the upcoming international sporting event.
