Deadly Fire at Swiss Nightclub Linked to Flaming Bottle Stunts During New Year’s Eve
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A devastating fire tore through the basement nightclub Le Constellation during New Year’s Eve celebrations, claiming the lives of at least 40 people and injuring 119 others, many seriously, in the luxury Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana. Authorities have linked the blaze to flaming bottle stunts promoted by the nightclub prior to the tragedy.
Video footage released by the club showed waitresses carrying champagne bottles topped with lit sparklers or candles, held high near the wooden ceiling of the packed venue. This promotional material, posted on YouTube before the event, is now at the center of investigations, as officials believe the use of these flaming bottles ignited the fire.
According to eyewitnesses, a bartender was seen carrying a female staff member on his shoulders while she held a champagne bottle fitted with a lit sparkler dangerously close to the club’s wooden ceiling. Moments later, flames erupted overhead, rapidly engulfing the space. The blaze spread with alarming speed due to a flashover — a violent ignition of combustible gases — which caused the fire to engulf the entire ceiling within seconds.
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed that the “boozy fireworks” were likely the cause of the inferno. Survivors described a scene of chaos and suffocation as thick smoke filled the club. Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, recounted his desperate escape by breaking a plexiglass pane amid the panic. He also corroborated seeing waitresses carrying flaming champagne bottles moments before the fire broke out.
Emergency responders, including medical aircraft, rushed victims to regional hospitals, highlighting the scale and severity of the disaster. The rapid spread of the fire and the crowded conditions of the nightclub contributed to the high casualty count.
This tragedy has raised urgent questions about fire safety regulations and the risks of using open flames in enclosed entertainment venues. The U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association provide guidelines on fire prevention in public spaces, emphasizing the dangers posed by pyrotechnics and open flames near combustible materials.
Authorities in Switzerland have launched a thorough investigation into the nightclub’s safety protocols and the circumstances leading up to the fire. The incident echoes other recent deadly fires worldwide, underscoring the critical importance of stringent fire safety enforcement. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers resources on workplace safety that include fire hazard prevention, which may serve as a reference for venues globally.
As the community mourns the victims of this calamity, officials urge nightclub operators and event organizers to reevaluate the use of fire-based entertainment to prevent future tragedies. The Swiss government has pledged full support for the investigation and victim assistance programs.
More information on fire safety standards and emergency preparedness can be found through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and other public safety organizations.
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