What was supposed to be a festive evening to welcome the arrival of the New Year turned into one of the worst tragedies in recent years in Switzerland.

At least 47 people, mostly young people between the ages of 20 and 30, lost their lives in a fire that broke out on the night of December 31st and January 1st inside the Le Constellation bar in the renowned ski resort of Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais. 112 people were injured, of whom "80 to 100 are in critical condition," said Stéphane Ganzer, head of the Canton of Valais's security department. Many of the victims have not yet been identified.

The alarm was raised around 1:30 a.m. According to cantonal police, the fire—the cause of which is currently unknown—started in the basement of the venue, which was very crowded with people celebrating New Year's Eve.

The flames would have spread in a few moments with a “flashover” dynamic , rapidly passing from a localised outbreak to a widespread blaze, favoured by the wooden ceiling and the accumulation of heat and combustion gases.

The testimonies collected speak of scenes of panic: dozens of young people fleeing, forced to push towards the only exit, a narrow staircase, or to break windows to seek refuge, while others remained trapped inside.

Various reconstructions indicate that the possible cause was the use of sparkling candles attached to champagne bottles, which reached the ceiling and set it on fire.

The rescue operations mobilized impressive resources: 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters and three columns of emergency vehicles from across the region .

Authorities immediately ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack, but are speaking of a tragic accident.

Thirteen Italian citizens are hospitalized, five with serious burns . Two sixteen-year-olds and a 30-year-old woman were transferred to Niguarda Hospital in Milan with burns covering 30-40% of their bodies.

Two other injured people, in even more critical condition, remained in Switzerland because they could not be transported. A 16-year-old girl is hospitalized in a coma between Bern and Zurich. Six Italians remain missing.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is in constant contact with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Swiss authorities and has announced that he will personally visit the site.

The Farnesina has activated a crisis unit at its consulate in Geneva to provide assistance to Italian nationals and their families. Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado is monitoring the situation on site. The Civil Protection Department of the Aosta Valley and the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy have also offered to admit injured people to Italian hospitals.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to support Switzerland in managing the emergency. An investigation has been opened to determine the responsibilities and causes of the fire.

The Attorney General of the Canton of Valais, Béatrice Pilloud, explained that identifying the victims will take time due to their severe burns and charred bodies.

“Significant resources have been mobilized to return the victims to their families as quickly as possible,” he said.

The entire Confederation is in shock. "This is one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced," said Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who has received messages of condolence from numerous international leaders, including President Sergio Mattarella.

(Unioneonline)

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