What was meant to be a night of celebration at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana quickly turned tragic on New Year’s Eve. As partygoers cheered with sparkler candles lighting up champagne bottles, a sudden flash ignited the low wooden ceiling, unleashing a fierce blaze in seconds. 🔥
The local prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, says initial findings point to the sparkler candles—often called Bengal lights—as the likely trigger. Video footage shared online shows flames racing across the soundproofing fabric, while many dancers remained unaware of the danger.
By early Friday, Swiss authorities confirmed at least 40 people had died and 119 were injured. Of those hurt, around 50 with severe burns were flown to specialist units across Europe, including hospitals in Germany and France.
Valais area chief Mathias Reynard offered a stark reminder: many of the injured are still fighting for their lives. Police chief Frederic Gisler added that 113 victims have been identified so far, including residents from Switzerland, France, Italy, Serbia and other countries.
Investigators are now focusing on the delicate process of identifying victims, a task expected to take days given the severity of the burns. Local authorities urge patience and respect for families during this painful time. 💔
As the community mourns, questions are already emerging about fire safety in crowded venues. For now, the sparkler candles that lit up the night have become a tragic lesson in how quickly a celebration can turn into catastrophe.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
