Le Constellation bar is split across two floors, and the fire appears to have started in the basement bar just before 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day. Authorities said it quickly turned into a flashover, when the heat becomes so intense, everything inside a room ignites almost simultaneously.
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As young partygoers rang in the New Year at a packed bar in the Swiss Alps, the celebration quickly turned into a nightmare when a devastating fire tore through the basement, killing at least 40 people and injuring 119 others.
The blaze at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana has been described by Switzerland’s president as one of the country’s “worst tragedies.”

As families endure the agonizing wait for news about missing loved ones, experts are diligently working to identify the victims of the tragic fire, while authorities strive to unravel the mystery of its origins and rapid spread.

Le Constellation bar is split across two floors, and the fire appears to have started in the basement bar just before 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day. Authorities said it quickly turned into a flashover, when the heat becomes so intense, everything inside a room ignites almost simultaneously.
Le Constellation bar is split across two floors, and the fire appears to have started in the basement bar just before 1.30 am on New Year’s Day.(AP)

During such incidents, flashover is a critical factor, often resulting in severe burns, particularly affecting the face, back, and upper limbs. These injuries are frequently compounded by serious inhalation issues caused by radiant heat and superheated gases.

Additionally, a backdraft, which is an oxygen-fueled explosion, poses the risk of causing immediate fatal burns and exposure to toxic inhalation.

Swiss officials have initiated an investigation to understand the circumstances that allowed the fire to ignite and expand so swiftly. On Friday, the two French owners of the establishment were questioned by police to aid in piecing together the events leading up to the disaster.

CNN has reached out to the owners of the bar through their businesses but is yet to receive a response.

As of Friday evening, many families and friends of the victims and those injured continue to wait for answers, while authorities remain engaged in the painstaking task of identifying the deceased.

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