Crans-Montana: A devastating fire at a New Year’s Eve party in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana has killed about 40 people and left more than 115 injured, many of them seriously, as authorities race to identify victims and determine the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out at Le Constellation, a popular bar frequented by young tourists, triggering scenes of panic as people attempted to smash windows to escape. Survivors and witnesses described chaos, with burn victims flooding into the streets as flames engulfed the venue.
Relatives and friends of those who attended the party have been frantically searching for loved ones, sharing photos across social media platforms in hopes of finding information. Teenagers who were present at the event told that they had received no responses, adding to the anguish faced by families.
Officials warned that the identification process could take days or even weeks, as several bodies were badly burned. Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud said the immediate priority is to identify all victims before informing families. Authorities are relying on dental records and DNA samples to ensure accuracy, Valais canton government head Mathias Reynard said.
Italian officials confirmed the first identified victim as Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old Italian international golfer who lived in Dubai. The Italian Golf Federation paid tribute to the young athlete, describing him as passionate and driven by strong values.
The exact number of people present at the bar at the time of the fire remains unclear, and police have not provided an official count of those still missing. Le Constellation has a listed capacity of around 300 people, with additional space on its terrace.
More than 30 victims were transferred to specialised burns units in Zurich and Lausanne, while others were treated in Geneva. Switzerland has reported about 40 fatalities, though Italian authorities have cited a higher toll of 47 based on information received from Swiss officials.
Several countries have confirmed that their nationals are among the victims. Italy said six of its citizens remain missing and 13 are hospitalised, while France reported multiple injured and missing citizens. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is expected to visit Crans-Montana as diplomatic efforts continue.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as a catastrophe of unprecedented and terrifying proportions and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for five days.
Investigators have ruled out an attack and are examining whether the bar complied with safety regulations, including the availability of emergency exits. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
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