Swiss President Guy Parmelin has declared five days of national mourning following the tragic fire at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana (canton of Valais). As a sign of mourning, flags on government buildings, including the Federal Palace in Bern, will be flown at half-mast for five days.
The tragedy occurred on New Year’s Eve, between December 31 and January 1, during New Year’s celebrations. The fire, which started around 1:30 a.m., quickly spread through the crowded room, where hundreds of guests, mostly young people, were gathered. According to the latest police reports, about 40-47 people died and more than 115 were injured, many of them with severe burns and respiratory tract damage.
“What should have been a moment of joy and unity turned into mourning on the night in Crans-Montana, affecting all of Switzerland and the world beyond,” President Parmelin said in his first address as head of state. He called the incident one of the worst tragedies in the country’s modern history and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and those injured.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest it was accidental (possibly caused by fireworks or sparks); terrorism has been ruled out. Many of the victims are citizens of other countries: Italy has reported 16 missing and 12-15 injured, France has reported 8 missing, and there are victims from Australia and other countries. The injured have been taken to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, Zurich, and even neighboring countries.
Residents and tourists gathered at the scene of the tragedy, leaving flowers and lighting candles in memory of the victims. The authorities have opened a hotline and a support center for relatives.
Switzerland mourns the victims of this unprecedented disaster, which has turned a holiday into a national day of mourning.