Switzerland ski resort likened to 'war zone' amid fears it could take WEEKS to identify Crans-Montana fire victims
SOURCE:Daily Mail
Recap all developments as officials in Switzerland say 'several' people have been killed after a fire broke out at a ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, Valais.
Several dozen New Year revellers are feared dead after a devastating fire ripped through a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.
Emergency services were scrambled to the Alpine town of Crans-Montana after the blaze broke out inside the Constellation Bar at around 1:30am local time (12:30am GMT).
Local officials say several dozen, many of whom are understood to be foreign tourists, were killed as flames engulfed the popular tourist venue.
One politician likened the ski resort to a 'war zone' as around 100 people were injured, some with serious burns, leaving nearby hospitals at full capacity.
One European ambassador warned it will likely take weeks to identify the victims because of the damage caused by the fire.
Follow the latest updates below
14:33
Crans-Montana banned fireworks ahead of New Year's Eve amid fire safety fears
Crans-Montana banned fireworks in the ski resort ahead of New Year's Eve owing to safety concerns.
According to CNN, officials announced a ban on Tuesday amid fears a lack of rainfall over the past month meant the risk of a fire was 'extremely high'.
14:06
Quick-thinking residents made makeshift stretchers to help the injured
A resident who lives opposite the Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana has told how firefighters and bystanders turned restaurant benches into makeshift stretchers as they revealed how the area fast became an 'open-air emergency hospital'.
Speaking to Le Temps, the resident recounted the moment smoke billowed from the bar and people began shouting in the street as the fire broke out inside the venue.
As people performed CPR on the pavement, they told how a neighbouring bar was requisitioned to host injured people.
They told the newspaper:
Bar 1900, opposite the Constellation, was quickly requisitioned. Wounded people, covered with heated blankets, were placed between the tables that had been moved.
Firefighters and bystanders improvised, transforming the benches on the restaurant's terrace into makeshift stretchers. It was a little after 2 am, and the coming and going of these spontaneous stretchers in and out of the Constellation seemed like it would never end.
13:44
'It was like a horror movie': How witnesses reacted to ski resort tragedy
We've now heard from a number of witnesses who were either inside the Constellation Bar when the fire broke out or close by.
Let's take a look at their reactions:
Alexis Laguerre, 18, was walking past the bar
Suddenly, smoke started pouring out. I called the police, and while I was on the phone, there was an explosion, and it was a real flame shooting out. We saw people running through the flames. It was quite shocking.
Adrien, who was at the Constellation Bar when the fire started
We saw people smashing windows, running and screaming,' he said. 'Parents were racing up in their cars. It was like a horror movie.
Morgane Barmaz saw her 15-year-old sister, who had been celebrating New Year's Eve at the resort, return home in shock
She was outside, luckily she wasn't hurt, but she cried all evening, traumatised.
Oliver Eviston, from Ireland, usually spends Christmas in Crans-Montana with family or friends
We know the resort well, we have lots of French and Italian friends here. We were in Montana last night and we came this morning because we're all shocked.
13:27
Moment screams rang out as survivors escaped Swiss ski resort nightclub inferno
Footage has captured the chilling moment screams rang out as survivors fled from a Swiss ski resort nightclub inferno.
Around 40 people are feared dead and 100 others injured after an explosion at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland during New Year's Eve celebrations.
The deadly blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the Constellation Bar, located in the centre of the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.
A clip shared on social media by a tourist from New York showed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, as dozens of people sprinted away from the blaze.
Read more here:
12:43
Macron offers France's 'fraternal support' to Switzerland after ski resort fire
French President Emmanuel Macron has shown his support for Switzerland following the devastating fire in Crans-Montana.
In a post on X, Mr Macron said:
Deep emotion following the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts go to the bereaved families and the injured. To Switzerland, to its people and to its authorities, I convey the full solidarity of France and our fraternal support.
12:28
Fire broke out after 'waiter waved sparkler close to ceiling'
A woman who witnessed the blaze start said fire broke out when a waiter, dancing on a colleague's shoulders, held a sparkler too close to the ceiling.
The survivor told French news channel BFM:
During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders. He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.
Another women said:
The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.
Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the fire ‘started in the basement of the bar’ and there was a crush as people desperately tried to get out via the single staircase.
The Italian ambassador to Switzerland has told local media it will take weeks to identify those killed in the ski resort fire in Crans-Montana.
According to the BBC, Gian Lorenzo Cornado made the remarks while speaking to Italian television.
11:58
Swiss minister likens ski resort to 'war zone'
A local politician has likened the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana to a 'war zone' as he arrived following the deadly fire which swept through a bar.
Stéphane Ganzer, the minister responsible for security in Valais, told Switzerland's Le Temps newspaper:
It's a young, carefree population that suddenly finds itself plunged into horror. These are things that affect you. Everything we see in this kind of situation leaves a mark on us and can leave lasting scars.
That's why I paid tribute to the young firefighters who responded so quickly. As Minister of Security, I am aware that these are situations I will face, thankfully not every day, but they are part of the job.
11:49
Pictures: Inside bar where deadly blaze broke out during New Year celebrations
Police in Switzerland have released photographs of inside the Constellation Bar where the fire broke out in the early hours.
The images show chairs, benches and cushions strewn across the room.
Investigators believe the fire started on the lower floor in the two-story building.
11:23
Visitors in tears and locals in shock - how community has reacted to ski resort fire
Commuters heading into Crans-Montana today have been seen breaking down in tears as locals say they expect the community to be in a 'state of mourning' for days to come.
One resident, who lives in Crans-Montana, said:
I heard a number of massive bangs which sounded like bombs going off. It was crazy. I live nearby. My heart felt like it jumped out of me. It was pounding.
I live hundreds of yards from the bar. I heard screaming and screaming and people running. We will be in mourning for days. We will never get over this. How did it happen?
11:12
France confirms two nationals among the injured
France has confirmed two nationals are among the injured following the ski resort fire in Crans-Montana.
In a statement released to BFM TV, the French government said:
They were immediately taken care of by the emergency services. Consular teams are in constant contact with the Swiss authorities in case other nationals are affected. France extends its condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the fire.
10:58
Fire broke out after 'birthday candle was placed in champagne bottle', say witnesses
Witnesses believe the blaze was caused by a birthday candle put inside a champagne bottle in the basement of the venue.
One woman, who gave her name as Emma, was at the bar when the explosion occurred, described how the fire seemed to start after people celebrated with champagne bottles that contained candles.
'Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside, screaming and crying,' she told French news channel BFM.
Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze but have ruled out a terror attack.
