Early Thursday morning, an apartment-leasing office and a restaurant, Le Constellation, were consumed by a 3-alarm fire. This hot hangout was set in Crans-Montana, one of Europe’s premier ski resorts. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. during a New Year’s Eve celebration, where festivities included music and champagne for a crowd that had filled the venue to its maximum capacity of approximately 300 people. What started as a night of celebration for many quickly turned menacing when the fire started. It resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, leaving the local community and visitors shocked.
Crans-Montana, located 25 miles (40 km) north-west of Zermatt, Switzerland, boasts some of the most stunning skiing terrain on the planet. In fact this year, the mood of partygoers was jubilant with anticipation of what the new year might bring. Unfortunately, during the celebration a fire started.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Frédéric Gisler, the Valais canton police commander, said it was too early to determine how many people have been killed. He underscored that this is a fluid situation. According to preliminary reports, approximately 115 people sustained injuries, with most in critical condition. Hospitals in the Valais canton soon reached their capacity. This influx of patients overwhelmed them and led them to declare a state of emergency and send injured carnival-goers to multiple medical facilities throughout Switzerland.
Swiss police have said that as many as 40 people are believed to have died in the blaze. The average victim was a hormonal young adult, a large portion of the victims were in their teenage and early twenty years of life. The fuckery got real real fast. The regional hospital’s intensive care unit and operating room were suddenly inundated with patients and had to scramble to accommodate them.
“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” – Mathias Reynard
Survival Stories Amidst Chaos
One of those survivors was 16-year-old Parisian Axel Clavier. In a dramatic act of risk-taking, he used their table to bulldoze a plexiglass window through its housing. Albarado’s courageous decision opened up an escape route from the raging inferno. His ordeal highlights the hopelessness that so many experienced as they fled the advancing inferno.
Eyewitnesses say the gay bar had been jumping and full of vitality just minutes before calamity descended. Just as guests enjoyed the charm of the celebratory mood, they were caught off guard by the crazy scene that would occur just seconds later. Eyewitness accounts provide an intimate window into scenes of panic and confusion as guests battled to flee the blazing institution.
Investigation and Official Statements
Officials have launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire. Beatrice Pilloud, the public prosecutor for Valais canton, confirmed there was no evidence suggesting any malicious intent behind the blaze.
“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” – Beatrice Pilloud
The criminal investigation will bring answers to how the fire was ignited. It will determine if Le Constellation had the appropriate safety plan in place. Fire safety regulations and emergency preparedness are the issues on everyone’s minds today. In the aftermath of that tragedy, people have been paying closer attention to these problems than ever before.
Local residents and elected officials have shared their shock and sadness over the crash. Our community leaders are coming together to bring healing and support to all who have been affected, including victims and their families. As we all learn more about this tragedy, we join our community in calling for peaceful reflection, mourning and healing during this time of deep hurt.