‘Joy and laughter turned to screams’: Eyewitnesses recall night of horror in Swiss bar fire

‘It was all joy, then panic’: Witnesses describe horror of Swiss New Year bar fire

Residents and tourists in Switzerland’s luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana recounted scenes of chaos and terror after a devastating fire ripped through the popular Le Constellation bar during New Year celebrations, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 100, according to authorities.

The blaze broke out shortly after midnight at the basement-level venue, which was packed with hundreds of mostly young people celebrating the New Year. Thick smoke, collapsing ceilings, and blocked exits triggered a deadly rush as partygoers scrambled to escape.

“It was all joy and laughter… then suddenly people were screaming and running,” a nearby resident told Swiss media.

Witnesses said panic spread within seconds as flames raced across the wooden interior. Two women who were inside the bar told French broadcaster BFMTV that a candle ignited the ceiling while a bartender lifted a colleague holding a bottle with a lit flame.

“The fire spread across the ceiling super quickly,” said one of the women, identified as Emma.

“It was absolute panic, everyone was screaming,” Emma and her friend Albane said, describing how crowd movement became uncontrollable as smoke filled the space and people rushed toward a narrow staircase.

Another witness said some people smashed windows to escape as flames engulfed the venue. He described seeing badly injured victims outside, while parents arrived in cars desperately searching for their children. Watching from across the street, he likened the scene to a horror movie.

“There were people screaming, and then people lying on the ground, probably dead,” said 21-year-old Samuel Rapp, who arrived after the fire. “They had jackets over their faces.”

Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old survivor from Paris, told The Associated Press he experienced “total chaos” inside the bar. One of his friends died and several others were missing.

“I’m still in shock,” Clavier said. “I lost my jacket, shoes, phone and bank card, but I am still alive, and it’s just stuff.”

Emergency responders set up improvised triage centres in nearby buildings, including a bar and a bank branch, as ambulances and helicopters transported the injured to hospitals in Lausanne, Zurich and other cities.

“And then it was just ambulances coming back and forth as much as possible,” said witness Dominic Dubois.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced five days of national mourning, calling the tragedy one of the most traumatic events in the country’s history. “This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais cantonal government.

Foreign nationals were among those affected. France said eight of its citizens were missing, while Italy confirmed several of its nationals had been hospitalised. Neighbouring countries offered medical assistance, and some injured survivors were transferred abroad for treatment.

Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland said authorities believed the fire may have been triggered by fireworks set off inside the bar, though Swiss prosecutors stressed the cause remains under investigation.

Authorities said the fire was not being treated as an attack. Rescue and identification efforts were continuing, with the area sealed off and a no-fly zone imposed.

For survivors and witnesses, the shock of the night remains fresh. As one local resident recalled, the celebrations gave way to stunned silence as sirens echoed through the resort and the smell of smoke lingered long after the flames were extinguished.