Eyewitnesses to the catastrophic fire at a Swiss nightclub on New Year’s Eve have recounted their experiences, highlighting both the tragic loss of life and the courageous efforts to save those trapped inside. The blaze claimed at least 47 lives and left 115 individuals injured.

The fire erupted in the basement venue, Le Constellation, located in the Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana, early this morning. The incident has shocked the world, as partygoers from various countries were either killed or severely injured, turning a night of celebration into a scene of devastation.

According to witnesses, the fire appears to have started when a waitress, while serving champagne with a sparkler, accidentally ignited flammable materials on the ceiling above the crowded bar. This occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m.

Survivors have shared distressing accounts of the chaos that unfolded inside and outside the club, with many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Alexis, an eighteen-year-old who was outside the venue when he noticed the fire, described to local media the desperate attempts of those inside to escape. He recounted how people were trying to break the glass to get out.

“It was a real flame coming out,” Alexis said. “People were running through these flames, trying to get to safety.”

‘You could see the shadows. People were trying to break the glass with chairs in the bar.’

Another witness, 21-year-old Alex, said he was just outside when the first victims of the tragedy began rushing out: ‘I saw someone in their underwear, burned. That’s when I realised there was definitely something wrong.’

He recalled a ‘smell of gas, of melted plastic, a very unpleasant mixture. And then half a dozen burned people came out.’

Alex added: ‘It sent a chill down my spine to think that there were possibly still fifty people trapped inside’.

One man, eighteen-year-old Rayan Guiren, told Blick: ‘Many parents have been searching for their children.’

Another told Sky News that many people were so panicked that they did not even realise their own faces were severely burned. 

Oscar, 19, told the broadcaster that some people’s faces were ‘completely gone’. 

He said: ‘There was full panic. Many people tried running out. People were banging on the windows, screaming. It was like a horror movie. 

‘I think the windows were too thick. Then people were falling on each other coming out.

‘Some people’s faces fully burned, like completely gone. People were asking me: “Am I burned? Is my face burned?”

‘I think the adrenaline must have made them not feel anything because they were completely, fully burned and they didn’t feel anything.’

Two French women, Emma and Albane, told French media that they were in the club when the fire broke out, which they believe started after a waitress put ‘birthday candles’ on top of some champagne bottles. 

They said: ‘In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood.’

The pair added that the flames ‘started to rise very quickly’.

They said evacuating from the venue was ‘very difficult’ as the escape route was ‘narrow’ and the stairs leading outside were ‘even narrower’.

They said they were ‘very lucky’ to escape as there were around ‘200 people trying to get out within 30 seconds through some very narrow steps’.

The tragedy seen in Switzerland comes amid the revelation that the club had been rated just 6.5 out of 10 for safety, with a combination of flammable interiors and limited escape routes now emerging as key factors in the deadly blaze. 

Le Constellation was fitted with wooden furnishings and foam-style ceiling material and had only one narrow staircase for revellers trying to escape.

Investigators said the fire rapidly intensified into a flashover, when extreme heat caused everything inside the enclosed space to ignite almost at once, leaving people little chance to flee.

One witness, Gianni, told Swiss outlet 20 Minuten that victims suffered severe burns, with faces ‘completely disfigured’ and hair burned away. He said many were left blackened by the flames, with their clothes fused to their skin.

Images from inside the venue show what appears to be foam-style soundproofing fixed to the ceiling, alongside extensive wooden décor throughout the bar and stairwells.

The nightclub had previously received a safety rating of just 6.5 out of 10 on a public review platform, a detail now drawing attention as investigators examine how the fire spread so quickly.

The listing on the review website, Wheree, did not specify any particular areas for concern in the club. Wheree aggregates ratings for venues on a range of issues, including safety, location and prices, from people who visit. 

The bar is owned by a French couple aged 49 and 40, who have lived in the valley for almost a decade, according to French broadcaster BFMTV citing a source close to the investigation. 

The female owner was inside the bar when the fire broke out and suffered burns to her arm, while her partner was at one of their other establishments at the time. Both were described as ‘completely in shock’.

The venue was hosting more than 100 people at the time and is licensed to hold up to 300, with a further 40 on its terrace.

Sixteen Italians have been reported missing after the fire tore through the bar, while around a dozen more Italian nationals are being treated in hospital with serious burn injuries, Italy’s foreign minister said.

Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference that work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families, adding that the community is ‘devastated’.

Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.

‘At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,’ Pilloud said.

Antonio Tajani said the situation remained highly confused in the hours following the blaze, as authorities worked to identify victims and trace those unaccounted for.

‘I hope there are no Italian victims, but we cannot rule anything out,’ he told Sky TG24 television, describing the aftermath as ‘chaotic’.

Tajani said he had been in regular contact with Swiss authorities throughout the day, as emergency crews continued search and recovery operations at the nightclub and hospitals across western Switzerland treated dozens of injured survivors.

He added that the confirmed death toll had climbed to 47, with many of the injured suffering severe burns, underscoring the scale of the disaster at the packed New Year’s Eve venue.

The blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the basement of ‘Le Constellation’, a popular venue located in the centre of the Alpine town of Crans-Montana. 

Dramatic footage shows enormous flames rapidly spreading over the ceiling of the cramped bar, as heavy music blares out of the speakers.

Panicked partygoers can be seen rushing to escape the venue, while others seem to remain underground filming the blaze, evidently not yet realising its danger. 

Moments later, however, music turned to horrified screeches as the entire bar erupted in flames. 

Crowds of people can be seen piling out of the door as they run for their lives while others scream to find their friends amid the chaos. 

Police have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire, but several witnesses said it started when a waitress, dancing on a male colleague’s shoulders, held a sparkler too close to the wooden ceiling.

The bar is owned by a French couple aged 49 and 40, who have lived in the valley for almost a decade.

The couple own three establishments in the area, including Le Constellation. The female owner was inside the bar when the fire broke out and suffered burns to her arm, sources said.

Her partner was at one of their other venues at the time. Both were described as ‘completely in shock’ following the disaster.

France’s foreign ministry has confirmed that two French citizens were among those injured, though it is not yet known whether the owner is included in that figure.

France’s president Emmanuel Macron said in a post to X following the tragedy: ‘I met with the President of the Swiss Confederation to express our solidarity. The toll is terrible. Our thoughts are with the families.

‘Our diplomatic and consular teams are following the situation and providing the necessary assistance to our compatriots affected by this tragedy.

‘France is welcoming the injured in its hospitals and stands ready to provide any assistance. Thank you to the teams and caregivers.’

Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the European Commission, meanwhile said on X: ‘Deeply saddened by the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected. 

‘We are liaising with Swiss authorities to provide medical assistance to the victims through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Europe stands in full solidarity with Switzerland.’

And King Charles said in a statement today: ‘My wife and I were appalled, and greatly saddened, to learn of the devastating fire last night in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland.

‘It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy. ‘While offering our admiration for the heroic first responders and the selfless emergency services, we wanted, above all, to convey our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have been so dreadfully affected by this horrific disaster.

‘Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of all those who have so tragically lost their lives and with those who remain in a critical condition in hospital.’

A promotional video for the club shows waitresses passing around champagne bottles fitted with sparklers, and carrying buckets full of several bottles also with sparklers inside. 

Images of the bar’s interior show what looks like soundproofing foam fitted on the ceiling – potentially flammable material that may have ignited in the blaze.

The authorities said the fire had resulted in a flashover at the bar, leading to one or more explosions. 

A flashover is the sudden transition from a developing blaze to a fully developed fire in an enclosed space, when all flammable surfaces in the room ignite instantly. 

Tim Steffens, a 19-year-old ski instructor who witnessed the blaze, described scenes of panic as the fire broke out.

He heard a loud bang before ‘everything inside was engulfed in flames,’ he told 20 Minuten.

‘Everyone was pushing and shoving their way out of the stairwell,’ he continued. ‘It was awful. They were all burned. Their clothes were burned away. It really wasn’t a pretty sight. The screams… not pretty, not pretty.’ 

Swiss daily Blick cited a doctor at the scene suggesting that the death toll could be in the ‘dozens’, while daily Le Nouvelliste said its sources were describing ‘a heavy toll’, with ‘around 40 dead and 100 injured’.

‘Several people lost their lives and others were injured,’ a police statement said, describing the incident as ‘serious’ and adding that ‘a major emergency response is underway’.

‘A large contingent of police, firefighters, and rescue workers immediately went to the scene to assist the numerous victims,’ it said.

‘The operation is still ongoing.’

‘More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead,’ said Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesman in Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland.

A survivor of the blaze told French news channel BFM: ‘During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter’s shoulders.

‘He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.’

Another women said: ‘The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.’

Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the fire ‘started in the basement of the bar’ and there was a crush as people desperately tried to get out via the single staircase.

Another witness, Emma, said the fire seemed to start after people celebrated with champagne bottles that contained candles. 

‘Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside, screaming and crying,’ she told BFM. 

Victoria gave a similar testimony. ‘It was firework candles inside a champagne bottle that caused the explosion. The entire ceiling of the bar caught fire,’ she said.

‘All the windows were black and opaque with smoke,’ she added. She believes many of the victims suffocated.

‘Some people smashed windows to let in air,’ she said. ‘I’m still shaking; many were crying as they left. It was mass panic.’

Albane, also at the bar, painted a picture of terrifying chaos as she described how people panicked and scrambled for the exit. ‘It was packed with people when the fire started,’ she said. ‘It was clearly accidental.’

She added that she saw the ceiling catch fire after sparkler was lit in a bottle on a high table.

Dalia Gubbay, a woman from Milan who has visited Crans-Montana over Christmas for the past 30 years, said her daughter-in-law ‘saw people burned, white sheets being placed over bodies’.

Adrien was also at Le Constellation when chaos ensued. ‘We saw people smashing windows, running and screaming,’ he said. ‘Parents were racing up in their cars. It was like a horror movie.’

Other reports suggest the blast may have been caused by fireworks – however police say this is yet to be confirmed. 

A witness added that ‘countless’ ambulances and several helicopters raced to the scene. 

A young Italian man said he is still anxiously waiting to hear from a friend who had been celebrating New Year’s Eve at the bar in Crans-Montana.

He told Italian public broadcaster Rai News one of his friends was ‘was burned all over’ while another was taken to Zurich by helicopter. 

‘Another friend of ours…last night we had no news, he couldn’t be found,’ he said.

‘My friends and I, we haven’t slept last night, we’ve barely eaten.’

Switzerland’s President, Guy Parmelin, said ‘a moment of joy turned into a tragedy that has touched the whole of Switzerland and abroad’ following the fire in the south-west of the country.

He cancelled his traditional New Year’s Day message earlier today.

‘There has been an explosion of unknown origin,’ police spokesman Lathion said in an earlier statement.

Around 100 people had gathered at the bar, which has a capacity of up to 300 and another 40 on its small terrace.

A doctor in the Swiss air ambulance and rescue service said hospitals are ‘overwhelmed with burn victims’ in comments made to local media.

A tourist from New York filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, and told AFP he saw people running and screaming in the dark.

‘Several people lost their lives and others were injured,’ a police statement said, describing the incident as ‘serious’ and adding that ‘a major emergency response is underway’.

‘A large contingent of police, firefighters, and rescue workers immediately went to the scene to assist the numerous victims,’ it said.

‘The operation is still ongoing.’

The Italian foreign ​ministry said information from Swiss police indicated about 40 deaths, but police would not be ⁠more specific than ‘tens’ at a press conference on the incident. 

Some of the victims are from other countries, said Stephane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton. 

Authorities ‍said 10 helicopters ‍and 40 ambulances had been mobilised. 

Ambulances were still parked outside the bar hours later, and broken windows could be seen. Local media described a ‘smell of burning still in the air’.

Crans-Montana is a luxury ski resort town located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. 

It is approximately two hours from the Swiss capital of Bern and is popular with British tourists. 

Police said a no-fly zone is in place over the resort and the area remains completely cordoned off.

‘The party was in full swing… music and champagne flowing freely,’ a resident who said they lived nearby told 24 heures, a Lausanne newspaper.

But as news of the fire broke, they said, the carefree mood vanished and people began gathering in the street. 

‘We could hear the sirens in the distance. Around me, people were stunned, worried, silent.’

‘We heard helicopters all night long,’ another neighbour told 24 heures.

‘With the fireworks, we didn’t understand what was going on at first. Then we saw the smoke. It’s terrible, a lot of young people go to that bar.’

‘The fire started around 1.30am this morning in a bar called Le Constellation,’ police spokesperson Lathion said. 

‘More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead.’

Most of those injured were in a serious condition, said Mathias Reynard, head of the cantonal government. ⁠

Valais hospital intensive care unit was full and patients being transferred elsewhere, he said. 

Commuters coming into the town are breaking down in tears due to the horror of what has happened and locals expect the community to be in a ‘state of mourning’ for days to come.

One bus driver told the Daily Mail: ‘We think it’s firecrackers or fireworks. They’re banned in a lot of clubs and they should never be allowed anywhere near crowded places. This is an absolute tragedy.’

One resident, who lives in Crans-Montana, said: ‘I heard a number of massive bangs which sounded like bombs going off. It was crazy.

‘I live nearby. My heart felt like it jumped out of me. It was pounding.

‘I live hundreds of yards from the bar. I heard screaming and screaming and people running.

‘We will be in mourning for days. We will never get over this. How did it happen?’

The explosion was being considered a fire and not an attack, prosecutor ‍Béatrice Pilloud confirmed, ⁠adding that authorities were trying to get the bodies of the victims to their families. 

A helpline and reception centre has been set up for families seeking information about loved ones. 

‘We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renown ski resort with lots of tourists,’ Lathion added. 

Le Constellation’s normal closing time is 2.00am local time, which would have been 30 minutes after the fire began.

It is unclear if it was due to stay open later for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Prosecutor Pilloud said: ‘We do not yet know the cause of the fire but we have ruled out terrorism.

‘There was a fire followed by a flash-over, meaning the air heats up and causes detonations.’

She continued: ‘Regarding fireworks, we cannot comment on this. It is too premature. I cannot give any more information on any possible causes. Out of respect to the victims and their families we ask that no speculation on the cause is made.’

She said ‘several foreign offices have been contacted’ but refused to confirm if the UK was included.

She added there was no information being released about victims’ nationalities and ages.

The first call to emergency services was at 1.31am on New Years Day with reports of smoke.

Four helicopters transported the injured to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich.

There were 150 emergency workers in the scene.

Police said it will take ‘multiple days’ to identify many of the victims.

Pilloud appealed to locals and tourists to not put ‘extra pressure on emergency services because operating theatres and intensive care are saturated’. 

Reynard said: ‘A night that should have been a celebration turned into a tragic nightmare involving serious numbers of victims.’

An eyewitnesses spoke of the horror in the aftermath of the explosion.

Lara, 28, a Dutch tourist, arrived on the scene nine minutes after the blaze.

She said: ‘It was mayhem. I was driving up the road. I saw horrendous things. I saw three young people carrying their friend. Desperately trying to get help. People were so burned.

‘No one knew what was happening.

‘It’s a young person bar. There are pool tables and a dart board. This is where the young hang out.

‘The ceilings are low. And it’s all wood. Wood everywhere.

‘And the stairs are narrow. Only three person-wide.

‘I just can’t imagine trying to get out.’

Bastien Frema, 20, a French holidaymaker, said: ‘People were screaming. I saw people with burnt clothing shredded, hanging off them.

‘People were yelling. Trying to get help. We couldn’t do anything. We just had to let the emergency services do what they could.

‘There were helicopters all night, until 8.00am. So many police and ambulances.

‘I know the bar well. It’s where you go if you’re under age. I fear the victims are going to be teenagers and people in their 20s. It’s a fun place if you’re young.’

Matthew, 28, a Swiss local, said: ‘It’s a really deep cavernous bar. You go down these narrow wooden stairs and then it goes on and on. There’s a smoking area at the back.

‘I was there the night before. My friend was in the Mexican opposite and he ran out and saw horrific injuries.’

Marceau Fortune, 20, a French hotel worker, was standing by the police cordon waiting for news from friends.

He said: ‘I heard a massive explosion. I thought it was a firework but I remember thinking it was just so loud. It was just one bang. I was down the street. I didn’t know what was happening.

‘I am worried for my friends. There are several I have not heard from yet. I’m waiting, waiting. Waiting on my phone. It’s just beyond horrific.’

The UK embassy in Berne said it has not been approached yet for assistance, but said that ‘nationals from multiple countries’ are likely impacted.

‘Swiss emergency services are responding to a fire in Crans-Montana, with nationals from multiple countries likely affected. We continue to monitor the situation,’ it wrote on X.

‘Whilst we have not been approached for assistance, our staff stand ready to support British nationals abroad 24/7.’

Hospitals in western Switzerland are under severe strain due to burn victims, and have released an appeal to the public: ‘Please show solidarity and refrain from risky activities on January 1.’

Crans-Montana is a large ski resort that is home to 87 miles of mountain trails. 

It is one of the top-ranked ski destinations in Europe.

The community is in the heart of the Swiss Alps, just 25 miles north of the Matterhorn. 

At the end of this month, it is due to host the FIS World Cup – a prestigious speed skiing competition.