Switzerland ski resort likened to ‘war zone’ amid fears it could take WEEKS to identify Crans-Montana fire victims: Live updates

French President Emmanuel Macron has shown his support for Switzerland following the devastating fire in Crans-Montana.

In a post on X, Mr Macron said:

Deep emotion following the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts go to the bereaved families and the injured. To Switzerland, to its people and to its authorities, I convey the full solidarity of France and our fraternal support.

A woman who witnessed the blaze start said fire broke out when a waiter, dancing on a colleague’s shoulders, held a sparkler too close to the ceiling.

The survivor told French news channel BFM:

During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter’s shoulders. He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.

Another women said:

The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.

Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the fire ‘started in the basement of the bar’ and there was a crush as people desperately tried to get out via the single staircase.

The Italian ambassador to Switzerland has told local media it will take weeks to identify those killed in the ski resort fire in Crans-Montana.

According to the BBC, Gian Lorenzo Cornado made the remarks while speaking to Italian television.

A local politician has likened the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana to a ‘war zone’ as he arrived following the deadly fire which swept through a bar.

Stéphane Ganzer, the minister responsible for security in Valais, told Switzerland’s Le Temps newspaper:

It’s a young, carefree population that suddenly finds itself plunged into horror. These are things that affect you. Everything we see in this kind of situation leaves a mark on us and can leave lasting scars. That’s why I paid tribute to the young firefighters who responded so quickly. As Minister of Security, I am aware that these are situations I will face, thankfully not every day, but they are part of the job.

Police in Switzerland have released photographs of inside the Constellation Bar where the fire broke out in the early hours.

The images show chairs, benches and cushions strewn across the room.

Investigators believe the fire started on the lower floor in the two-story building.

Commuters heading into Crans-Montana today have been seen breaking down in tears as locals say they expect the community to be in a ‘state of mourning’ for days to come.

One resident, who lives in Crans-Montana, said:

I heard a number of massive bangs which sounded like bombs going off. It was crazy. I live nearby. My heart felt like it jumped out of me. It was pounding.I live hundreds of yards from the bar. I heard screaming and screaming and people running. We will be in mourning for days. We will never get over this. How did it happen?

France has confirmed two nationals are among the injured following the ski resort fire in Crans-Montana.

In a statement released to BFM TV, the French government said:

They were immediately taken care of by the emergency services. Consular teams are in constant contact with the Swiss authorities in case other nationals are affected. France extends its condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the fire.

Witnesses believe the blaze was caused by a birthday candle put inside a champagne bottle in the basement of the venue.

One woman, who gave her name as Emma, was at the bar when the explosion occurred, described how the fire seemed to start after people celebrated with champagne bottles that contained candles.

‘Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside, screaming and crying,’ she told French news channel BFM.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze but have ruled out a terror attack.

The British embassy in Switzerland has posted on X to say staff have yet to be approached following the fire in Crans-Montana.

UK officials add they are ready to offer support to any British nationals in the country.

Authorities in Switzerland have provided an update on the devastating fire which swept through the Constellation Bar in

the luxury ski resort Crans-Montana this morning.

Here’s what we do know and here’s what we’re waiting to learn:

Police say there are ‘several dozen’ deaths while around 100 people were injured as a result of the fire which broke out 1:30am local time in Crans-MontanaBut officials have yet to confirm how many fatalities there are with local media reporting as many as 40 are feared deadThe nationalities of those killed is not yet known but officials say it is certain some tourists were among fatalities given the number of foreign visitors to Crans-MontanaAuthorities say explosions heard at the bar were caused by a fire amid reports the blaze was the result of a blastWe do not yet know the cause of the fire with arson being examined as a possibility but officials have ruled out a terror attack

Here is the latest following the press conference earlier this morning:

Valais police commander Frédéric Gisler has confirmed there are ‘several dozen’ deaths following the fire at the Constellation Bar in the early hours of New Year’s DayStéphane Ganzer, the State Councillor for Security, Institutions and Sport, said it was certain tourists were among those killed with many foreign nationals visiting Crans-Montana over New YearAttorney General Béatrice Pilloud has ruled out a terror attack and said the explosions were caused by a fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.Crans-Montana has been cordoned off to allow police to identify the victimsIntensive care units at nearby hospitals are at full capacity, meaning only people in genuine emergencies have been told to report to A&E

While we await further updates from the police press conference, here’s a video of the fire after it broke out in the early hours in Crans-Montana.

A tourist from New York filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, and told AFP he saw people running and screaming in the dark.

Watch the footage below: