A fire broke out in the early hours of January 1st at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a well-known ski destination in southern Switzerland. During New Year celebrations, the blaze led to significant casualties, with initial reports indicating several dozen deaths and a further 100 injuries, many of which were severe.
Emergency responses were swift; around 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 responders were deployed to address the crisis. Local authorities revealed that the bar was packed with patrons from various countries at the time of the fire.
While the investigation into the cause begins, officials have ruled out an attack, stating that the cause was likely related to the nature of the fire itself. Preliminary speculations suggested that pyrotechnics may have played a role, although this is yet unconfirmed.
In the aftermath, there are efforts to identify victims and return bodies to their families. Authorities indicated that this might take weeks given the scale of the tragedy.
Crans-Montana has been known for luxury skiing, but it now faces an uphill battle as it comes to terms with this devastating incident.
