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A fire at a Swiss ski resort has left at least 40 people dead and more than one hundred others injured, making it one of the country’s worst ever tragedies.
The blaze at the Crans-Montana resort in southwestern Switzerland is believed to have been caused by sparklers on Champagne bottles, according to a preliminary investigation, lit as part of New Year celebrations. The sparklers are said to have caught the bar’s wooden ceiling alight, with the fire spreading rapidly, leading to trapped partygoers desperately trying to escape via a set of stairs and through a narrow door.
The victims range in age from 14 to 39 years old, and include nationals from Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Portugal, France, Belgium and the UK. Reports say that of the 119 injured, some have such severe burns that they have yet to be identified.
An investigation has been launched to identify whether sound proofing foam used on the ceiling of the Le Constellation bar conformed with fire regulations and if sparklers were permitted for use in the venue. Focus will also be placed on the bar’s fire safety measures, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
The bar’s French owners—named by the media as Jacques and Jessica Moretti—have been placed under criminal investigation by the prosecutors’ office for the Valais region. They are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.
Swiss police have said the process of identifying the dead and injured is still underway, with some families being asked to provide DNA samples to assist with the identification process.
Floral tributes, soft toys and messages of love and hope have been placed outside police barriers surrounding the bar.
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