Terrifying footage shows a waitress perched on a colleague’s shoulders, holding a sparkler aloft just seconds before a deadly blaze tore through the basement of Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The inferno claimed at least 47 lives and injured over 115, many of them young New Year’s Eve revellers.
Heroic Attempts to Beat the Flames
In harrowing clips, a brave partygoer can be seen trying to smother the fire spreading swiftly across the club’s wooden ceiling. Despite desperate efforts, the blaze raced through the cramped ski resort hotspot, leaving chaos in its wake.
Witnesses believe the fire started when a sparkler placed in a champagne bottle ignited the flammable soundproofing foam on the bar’s ceiling, sparking the fatal inferno.
Night of Panic and Carnage
- About 200 revellers packed inside the Alpine nightclub to ring in the New Year
- Flames shot through the basement and narrow wooden stairs, triggering loud explosions that sparked fears of a terror attack among locals
- Survivors describe stampedes, choking smoke, and severe burns amid scenes of terror
- Emergency services raced in amid scenes described as “indescribable violence and distress”
Swiss President Guy Parmelin called it “one of the worst tragedies our country has suffered, cutting short many young lives.” The town of Crans-Montana has ordered flags flown at half-mast as the community mourns.
Slow Process to Name the Dead
Identifying the victims is proving difficult due to severe burns, forcing authorities to use dental records and DNA tests. Officials warn the task is sensitive and time-consuming.
Among the dead is 17-year-old Italian golfing prodigy Emmanuele Galeppini, mourned by the Italian Golf Federation as a passionate young talent. His death was confirmed on Instagram, striking a chord across Italy.
Survivors Describe Nightmare Escape
Witnesses spoke of panic and horror. Victoria said the sparkler touched the ceiling and flames erupted in seconds. “All the windows were black with smoke. Many victims suffocated,” she recalled.
Adrien, another survivor, said: “People were smashing windows, running, screaming. Parents rushed in their cars. It was like a horror movie.”
Thick smoke and narrow stairways caused a desperate stampede as revellers tried to flee the fire.
Foreign Victims Add to Tragedy
The dead include nationals from Italy, France, and Australia. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani plans to visit the disaster zone. Families across borders wait anxiously for news.
French mother Laetitia searched hospitals and morgues for her 16-year-old son Arthur for over 30 hours with no word yet. “I don’t know where he is,” she said, clinging to hope.
Nightclub Safety Comes Under Fire
Le Constellation had a safety rating of just 6.5 out of 10. Authorities have launched an investigation into maximum capacity and safety measures but stress no arrests have been made yet.
Firefighters described a “flashover” – a blast of volatile gases that exploded, fanning the flames through the venue at terrifying speed.
Community Grieves as Town Mourns
The ski resort town of Crans-Montana is stunned and heartbroken. Many victims were known locally. Crowds gathered to lay flowers and light candles at the scene.
Bodies remain inside the sealed nightclub as police work tirelessly to identify the dead.
Young local Piermarco Pani said: “You think you’re safe here, but this can happen anywhere. They were people like us.”
The deadly fire has cast a long, dark shadow over what should have been a night of joy and celebration.
