CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A fire at the Le Constellation bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort broke out after midnight on Jan. 1, killing about 40 people and injuring roughly 115 others, according to police. Many of the injured were teens and people in their 20s, authorities said.
Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard said Friday that many lives were saved by citizens in the first minutes after the fire, before emergency crews arrived, according to the Associated Press. Authorities said an exact death toll was not immediately available.
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Valais Canton Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said that investigators believe the fire may have been triggered by sparkler candles placed on top of champagne bottles inside the bar, NBC News reports.
Speaking at a news conference, Pilloud said the sparklers were brought too close to the ceiling, leading to what she described as a likely flashover. Pilloud emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that no arrests have been made.
The severity of the burns has complicated victim identification, forcing families to provide DNA samples as many wallets and identification documents were destroyed in the fire.
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Survivor Axel Clavier told the Associated Press that two or three of his friends were still missing hours after the disaster.
Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers at an impromptu memorial near the bar, while others gathered to pray at the Church of Montana-Station. Pope Leo also sent condolences in a telegram on Friday to the bishop of Sion, offering prayers for the victims and those injured.
