A horrific fire broke out at Le Constellation bar while New Year’s Eve revelers were gathered at the Swiss Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana. This foundation’s cruelty led to loss of life in this preventable tragedy and many serious injuries. The destruction from the fire took the lives of nearly 40 individuals. It severely burned 115 other occupants, making it one of the most deadly fires in Switzerland’s history. As law enforcement continues to work toward identifying those victims, the community is left to honor and mourn the loss of its citizens.
The first fatality to be publicly identified in this tragedy is Emanuele Galeppini, a rising star of Italian golf. His passing has left a deep and profound sadness across the sporting world, with the Italian Golf Federation honoring him. They described Galeppini as a “young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values,” highlighting the profound impact of his loss on both friends and family.
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight at the tavern. Thus, this hot and crowded park has the highest proportion of international visitors, almost entirely from France and Italy. The resort town, which had a permanent population of around 11,000 but often tripled its size with visitors, had been busy welcoming in the new year. Eyewitnesses described horrific sights as customers tried to flee the inferno that consumed the club.
In the wake of this horrific attack, Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared a five-day period of mourning throughout the country. President Alain Berset called the incident one of the most traumatic events in Switzerland’s history. The president’s declaration, as it should, reflects the profound sadness his nation is experiencing. Families who lost loved ones in the disaster are understandably furious, demanding answers.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene.… over a hundred injured were en route to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich within the hour. The rest were treated in adjacent countries. Mathias Reynard, the head of Valais canton’s government, assured that many of the survivors suffered serious injuries. He didn’t mince words about the widespread, urgent need for medical support.
These victim identification efforts are complex, on-going, and have proven to be difficult. According to officials from the Swiss police, this process may take days or even weeks. In the latter case, they’re using dental and DNA samples to help in identification. That is the assessment of Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado. His response was that we have traced down all but five of the 112 injured people.
Arthur, the 16-year-old son, is still missing. His mother, Laetitia, stood behind an empty podium and issued an emotional plea for help, her voice cracking as she begged for information about her son.
“If he’s in the hospital, I don’t know which hospital he’s in. If he’s in the morgue, I don’t know which morgue he’s in. If my son is alive, he’s alone in the hospital, and I can’t be by his side.” – Laetitia
Even as the morning dawns, families are still holding out hope and waiting for word on loved ones trapped in the rubble. A taxi driver in Sion lamented the horrific incident saying, “I don’t even want to discuss because it is so sad. This sense of loss permeates the entire community as Tacoma Park residents continue to deal with the aftermath of the fire.
Footage has recently emerged of patrons and staff fighting to put out a blaze. The fire apparently started on the roof of popular Le Constellation bar. The chaotic scenes depicted in these videos serve as a stark reminder of the panic that ensued in those critical moments.
As investigations go on into what started the fire, many questions lie open. The local authorities are committed to uncovering what led to this catastrophic event and ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again.