Fire survivors at Crans-Montana ski resort's La Constellation bar recount being 'trapped' inside the inferno
Swiss authorities confirm a significant number of casualties, including many young people, from the Crans-Montana ski resort fire. As the investigation continues, the death toll remains uncertain, with police estimating around 40 fatalities and 115 injuries. The fire engulfed the Le Constellation bar around 1:30 am on January 1, during New Year's Eve celebrations, with many young revelers in attendance.
Nathan Huguenin, a 19-year-old survivor, expressed his shock, stating, 'It feels like a nightmare, like I'll wake up.' He described his harrowing experience, witnessing people being resuscitated and others severely burned. Another witness, Axel Clavier, recounted being trapped inside the bar, unable to see due to smoke and unsure of how to escape. He managed to break a window and escape, leaving him with half his clothes.
European media reports suggest that people were using sparklers near the wooden ceiling when the fire started, though officials have not yet confirmed the cause. Two survivors told BFMTV that sparklers were attached to champagne bottles. Swiss authorities attributed the fire to a 'flashover', where all combustible materials in the enclosed bar ignited simultaneously.
The Crans-Montana resort, known for its ski slopes and luxury amenities, attracts many wealthy foreign tourists. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is investigating if any citizens were affected. Survivors with burn injuries are being transferred to specialized clinics, with many young patients among them. The most severe cases are treated at Lausanne University Hospital, which has received 22 patients so far, primarily aged 16 to 26.
In Switzerland, 16-year-olds can legally enter bars and consume beer and wine, though the legal drinking age for spirits is 18. Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the fire a 'tragedy' with 'many lives, mostly young, lost'. The identification of the deceased is challenging due to severe burns, with Rome's ambassador to Switzerland stating it will take time. Sixteen Italians are missing, and 12 were hospitalized with injuries, according to the country's foreign minister.
