THIS is the horrifying moment the deadly “flashover” inferno erupts at a packed bar in Swiss ski resort, where at least 47 people died.
Authorities have confirmed teenagers are among the dead and 115 injured after the horror blaze ripped through a packed tourist bar in Crans-Montana, Valais.
Families are now facing an “unbearable” wait for victims to be identified after officials said the process will “take time” – and potentially last several days.
Experts are using dental and DNA records to try identify the deceased, but the severity of the burns is delaying identification, a European official has said.
Officials said they expect victims of foreign nationalities given the resort’s popularity with tourists.
Eight French nationals and six Italians are missing and foreign governments are reportedly calling around frantically to establish if their citizens are among the dead.
The first injured teen to be identified is FC Metz youth footballer player Tahirys Dos Santos.
The 19-year-old was “severely burned”, the football club said, and is now receiving treatment in Germany.
It comes as shocking footage shows people running out the doors of the venue as flames engulf the ceiling of the dancefloor and the bar.
It appears the inside of the basement venue featured extensive wooden décor.
Terrified witnesses believe the deadly fire was sparked by champagne sparklers which set fire to the roof of the packed venue.
Images sent to BFM show a woman with flaming champagne bottles on on the shoulders of another person.
The foam-style soundproofing on the ceiling is alight.
Swiss president Guy Parmelin confirmed many of the victims were youths.
He said: “Many of the victims were young, with many hopes and dreams.
“The fire which took place in a bar is one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced.
“The Swiss government wants to share their condolences to families and loved ones of the victims, even though no words can represent this brutal loss.”
He stressed that the task of identifying victims is “extremely difficult work and “is something that will last a long time”.
State councillor Stéphane Ganzer added: “You can imagine on New Year’s Eve that the population is quite young.”
At least 22 people aged between 16 and 26 were airlifted to the University Hospital of Lausanne with burns covering more than 20 percent of their body.
Claire Charmet, the director of Lausanne University Hospital, told Swiss newspaper 24 Heures that their patients are “the most serious cases”.
The youngest survivors are as young as 15-years-old and are being treated for third-degree burns, Dr Robert Larribau, head of the Emergency Médical Communication Centre at Geneva University Hospitals, said.
Eerie promo video from the Swiss nightclub has emerged, showing staff parading flaming champagne bottles through packed crowds.
Bottle service waitresses, donning bizarre neon motorcycle helmets, can be seen carrying sparkling candles in glass bottles to tables of revellers, in advertising material released by Le Constellation.
Two young French women said waiters had been carrying bottles with sparklers inside and the bar quickly ignited after one touched the ceiling.
“People were asking me: ‘Am I burned? Is my face burned?’”
One of the French witnesses told BFM TV: “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 few dozen seconds, the whole ceiling was on fire. Everything was made of wood.”
Another witness, identified only as Emma, told BFM it was only a matter of “seconds” before the whole ceiling was in flames.
“We ran outside, screaming and crying,” she said.
It is understood the fire sparked a “flashover” blast – triggered by a surge in the temperature of the air – as the flames ripped through the wooden ceiling of the bar.
A local police spokesman confirmed that “dozens of pyrotechnic devices in bottles” lined tables in the basement of the bar.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who has been in regular contact with Swiss authorities throughout the day, said the confirmed death toll stood at 47.
Chief of the Valais Cantonal Police, Frédéric Gisler said many of the 115 injured have been “significantly” wounded with a range of burns.
A doctor in the Swiss air ambulance and rescue service broadcaster RTS said hospitals are “overwhelmed with burn victims”.
The local intensive care unit at Valais hospital is full, police added.
The EU is working with Swiss authorities to assist with medical help, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, while countries such as France, Germany and Belgium are taking patients to ease the load.
Disaster struck after midnight
A fire was first reported at 1.30am local time (12.30am UK time) after locals noticed smoke coming from the venue.
Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and helped treat dozens of victims fleeing the inferno – with plumes of smoke seen billowing from the building.
Officials said three disaster trucks, 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances and 150 emergency responders were deployed to the scene to battle the flames and rescue victims.
As the fire took hold, revellers ran to the single narrow staircase exit to try and escape the inferno, partygoers said.
They were “thrown down the stairs” by a surge of the crowd – and others frantically smashed through windows to get out of the venue.
Victoria, a survivor, told BFM all the windows were “black and opaque with smoke” and people broke windows to let in air.
“Many of the victims must have suffocated,” she said.
Tim Steffens, a 19-year-old ski ski instructor who witnessed the blaze, described scenes of panic as the fire broke out.
“Everyone was pushing and shoving their way out of the stairwell,” he said.
“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.”
One brave eyewitness told the BBC how he instantly sprinted over to the venue as smoke was billowing into the night sky.
He smashed through a window and grabbed hold of as many partygoers as he could to drag them to safety.
Once inside he said he saw people “burning from head to foot, no clothes anymore”. He added: “It was very shocking.”
A teenage witness told Sky that people had run out so panicked they were unaware their faces were severely burned.
“People were asking me: ‘Am I burned? Is my face burned?” he recounted.
“I think the adrenaline must have made them not feel anything because they were completely, fully burned and they didn’t feel anything.”
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said a probe is underway to determine if the width of the staircase meets the safety standards.
The two French women estimated there were “around 200 people” at the event to celebrate New Year’s Eve – mostly aged between 15 and 20.
“We were very lucky,” they added, saying there were “about 200 people trying to get out within 30 seconds through some very narrow steps”.
A police spokesperson said the venue was licensed for 300 people inside, and 40 on an outside terrace, where smoking was permitted.
Police do not believe the fire was caused by an attack, but an official cause is yet to be determined.
Local prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said an investigation had been opened into the blaze at the bar, which Swiss company records showed was owned by a French couple, but she said it was too early to comment on any possible safety failures.
“There are still many circumstances to be clarified… The most likely scenario at present is that a widespread fire caused an explosion,” she told a press conference.
The UK embassy in Bern say they are ready to help any British nationals affected but it still remains unknown if any Brit nationals are involved.
King Charles has written to Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressing his heartbreak for those who lost their lives.
He wrote: “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.”
The Italian foreign ministry said 16 Italian nationals are currently missing after the blaze and between 12 and 15 others are in hospital.
An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: “Our thoughts are with all those injured and killed in the terrible tragedy in Crans-Montana.
“We will continue to monitor the situation, and our consular staff stand ready to support any British nationals who may be affected.”
The area surrounding the bar was closed off with a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15718148/new-years-explosion-bar-swiss-ski-resort/
