Terrifying footage of moment fire at Swiss ski resort started as 'several dozen' believed to be killed
The blaze is believed to have killed dozens
Featured Image Credit: Sky News/Twitter
Topics: World News, Europe
Danni King
Topics: World News, Europe
The terrifying moment a fire erupted at a Swiss ski resort bar has been shared in new video footage.
Le Constellation, a venue located in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, hosted a New Year's Eve celebration on Wednesday, but shortly after midnight fell the bar was engulfed in flames.
Clips shared to social media show a fire burning inside the bar as revellers attempt to escape, with huge clouds of smoke filling the street.
It's been reported that around 200 people attended the party, with most being aged between 16 and 25.
Advert
While the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed by officials, it has been reported that at least 40 people sadly lost their lives in the fire, with a further 115 being injured, according to The Telegraph.
Police said foreign tourists are thought to be among the victims of the fire and those injured are in a serious condition.
“Because it is an international resort, we think that there are international victims,” Frederic Gisler, the police chief for Valais Conton, said.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Swiss police said it will take 'several days' to identify all of the victims due to the severity of the injuries and burns suffered.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
An investigation is underway and so far, it is believed that a fire spreading across the roof of Le Constellation caused an 'explosion'.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin has also spoken out about the incident, branding it 'one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced' and referring to the fire as a 'drama of unknown scale'.
“This event took place in a place that is dedicated to life and joy... what an incredible and dreadful contrast,” the president added.
He confirmed that flags will be flown at half-mast for five days.
Mourners were seen leaving floral tributes outside the bar on Thursday and police have been photographed at the scene.
It has been confirmed that Swiss authorities are not treating the incident as an attack.
Beatrice Pilloud, a prosecutor, said at a press conference: “At the moment we are considering this a fire and we are not considering the possibility of an attack.”
Reports claim different things were to blame for the fire, with some saying it may have been caused by pyrotechnics from a concert.
Elsewhere, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italy's Sky TG24 that fireworks could have been behind the 'explosion', while two people who claim to have escaped the fire told BFMTV that 'birthday candles' placed on champagne bottles may have prompted the incident.