Shocking new photographs have laid bare the devastating sequence of a fire that killed 47 people and injured over 100 at a Swiss ski resort bar in the early hours of New Year's Day.
The Moment of Ignition
The inferno erupted at 1.30am on January 1 inside the Le Constellation bar in the popular resort of Crans-Montana. Witnesses reported that the fire broke out as waiting staff entered carrying bottles of champagne and celebratory flares. Authorities are investigating the strong possibility that sparks from one of these flares set the bar's ceiling canopy alight.
One particularly dramatic image shows a woman holding a champagne bottle with a flare protruding from its neck, the ceiling above her already glowing an ominous orange. Videos and pictures from the scene appear to capture the exact moment the initial ignition occurred, with flames rapidly taking hold.
Panic and Desperate Escapes
The footage and photos depict a terrifying escalation. Initially, some patrons watched and even recorded the growing fire on their mobile phones. One person can be seen making a futile attempt to smother the flames with a cloth, but the fire spread with terrifying speed across the ceiling.
As the situation became critical, the scene descended into mass panic. More than one guest reported having to break windows to escape, with revellers seen using tables to smash their way out of the trapped bar. The subsequent images show people scrambling desperately for safety as the blaze engulfed the venue.
Aftermath and Investigation
The death toll from the tragedy stands at 47 people, with dozens more transported to hospitals in and around Crans-Montana, some in a critical condition. In the days since the disaster, the burned-out shell of Le Constellation has been completely covered with white sheeting as the investigation into the precise cause continues.
The local and international community is now in mourning. Heartbreaking scenes have shown people gathering at the site to pay tribute to the victims, as the resort struggles to come to terms with the scale of the loss on what should have been a night of celebration.
