New Year's Eve drama in Crans-Montana: 40 dead in devastating fire!

New Year's Eve drama in Crans-Montana: 40 dead in devastating fire!

A tragic New Year's Eve shook the small Swiss community of Crans-Montana. A fire broke out in the Le Constellation bar on New Year's Eve, killing at least 40 people and injuring 115 others, many of them seriously. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described this drama as one of the worst tragedies in the country's history. As antennemuenster.de reports, some of the injured were in mortal danger, which further exacerbated the already tense situation.

The incident began around 1:30 a.m. when an alarm was received and emergency services were on site within two minutes. According to reports, a so-called "flashover" occurred, in which a small fire abruptly turned into a full-scale fire, possibly caused by an explosion or a deflagration. According to eyewitnesses, escaping the bar was extremely difficult due to the cramped conditions and limited escape options, resulting in panic and chaos. Many of those involved were young people between the ages of 16 and 26 - identifying the victims is difficult because many of the victims were badly burned. Investigations, including into the cause of the fire, are in full swing. BR.de mentions that initial indications suggest that candles on champagne bottles may have been responsible for the fatal fire. A suspected explosion of an object may also have led to the devastating fire.

The extent of the tragedy

The consequences of the fire are devastating. In addition to the fatalities, there were numerous injured people who were taken to nearby hospitals, often with severe burns. There is great public sympathy - offers of help are being received from Germany, France and Italy to support those affected during this difficult time. The German embassy is in close contact with the Swiss authorities to find out more about possible German victims, with Swiss authorities suspecting that many foreign guests could be affected.

This devastating incident has also put security measures at the bar under scrutiny. The police have closed the area around the bar and there are many unanswered questions about the fire safety measures and the possible emergency exits, which are essential in an emergency. The Valais city council has declared a “special situation” in order to mobilize emergency services and the necessary resources, while the Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud has ruled out an attack as a possible cause. Developments will continue to be monitored closely to gain clarity on the causes and responsibilities.

Insurance questions after the accident

In view of the tragedy, questions about liability and possible compensation cannot be avoided. Damage caused by fireworks, for example to cars or homes, can in many cases be covered by insurance. Information as can be read on test.de will help with regulation. For example, the perpetrator's private liability insurance will cover damage caused by the danger associated with the fireworks. In the event of injuries, statutory health insurance is responsible, while private accident insurance can cover permanent damage.

In such an emotional moment and such a terrible night, Crans-Montana is still a long way from being shaken. The international community mourns and shows solidarity. It remains to be seen what lessons can be learned from this tragedy in order to prevent similar incidents in the future as best as possible.