Swiss Nightclub Fire Claims 47 Lives: Witnesses Recount Scenes of Unimaginable Horror

What was meant to be a night of celebration turned into one of the darkest moments in modern swiss history. As New Year’s Eve festivities were underway, a massive fire tore through a packed bar and nightclub in Switzerland, triggering scenes of absolute panic. Eyewitnesses described people collapsing, terrified crowds desperately searching for exits, and smoke engulfing the venue within moments.

By Friday morning, officials confirmed that the death toll had climbed to 47, with at least 115 people injured, many of them critically. In response to the scale of the disaster, Switzerland has declared five days of national mourning. Emergency services worked through the night, while neighboring countries offered medical assistance as hospitals struggled to cope with the influx of severely burned victims.

The blaze broke out shortly after midnight at Le Constellation, a basement-level bar and nightclub in the Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana. The venue was crowded with hundreds of mostly young revelers when the fire erupted. Authorities said many of the injured suffered serious burns, complicating the identification process. Calling the incident “unprecedented,” Switzerland’s president described the tragedy as one that has shaken the entire nation.

Witnesses Recall Confusion, Smoke, and Sudden Panic

Survivors of what is now considered one of the deadliest tragedies in contemporary Swiss history spoke of utter confusion as flames spread rapidly across the ceiling, cutting off escape routes and filling the club with thick, suffocating smoke.

Two women who were inside the nightclub told French television channel BFMTV that a male bartender lifted a female coworker onto his shoulders while she held a bottle topped with a lit candle. According to their account, the flame touched the wooden ceiling, and within seconds, the fire raced across the room.

“The fire spread across the ceiling super quickly,” said one of the survivors, Emma. She and her friend Albane recalled how panic erupted almost instantly as parts of the ceiling collapsed and people rushed toward a narrow stairway leading out of the basement.

“Everyone Was Screaming”

As flames intensified, witnesses described a deadly crowd surge near the small exit. People pushed, fell, and screamed as smoke reduced visibility and breathing became nearly impossible.

“It was absolute panic, everyone was screaming,” Emma and Albane told BFMTV, explaining how the thick smoke triggered uncontrollable movement within the crowd.

Another witness said some people smashed windows in a desperate attempt to escape. Outside the club, he saw severely injured victims lying on the ground, while parents arrived in cars, frantically searching for their children.

Watching from across the street, the witness compared the unfolding disaster to a horror film, recalling how he saw around 20 people running through smoke and flames.

Reuters-verified video footage showed crowds fleeing as fire engulfed large sections of the building. One survivor, 21-year-old Samuel Rapp, later said, “There were people screaming, and then people lying on the ground, probably dead. Their faces were covered by jackets.”

Valais canton police chief Frederic Gisler confirmed that 115 people were injured, most of them critically. Earlier estimates suggested around 40 fatalities, but the number has since risen. Italian officials reported that 13 Italian citizens were hospitalized and six others remain missing.

Survivors Describe Total Chaos Inside the Club

Sixteen-year-old Axel Clavier from Paris, who survived the blaze, told the Associated Press that the atmosphere inside the club was one of “total chaos.” He said two or three of his friends were missing, and one of them had died.

Although he did not witness the fire’s ignition, Clavier recalled seeing waiters carrying champagne bottles with sparklers attached. As smoke quickly filled the venue and breathing became difficult, he ran upstairs and smashed a Plexiglas window using a table to escape. He later hid behind furniture, still in shock.

“I’m still in shock,” he said. “I lost my bank card, phone, shoes, and jacket, but I’m alive. It’s just stuff.”

Witnesses said the injured were initially treated at makeshift triage centers set up in nearby buildings, including a bar and a UBS bank branch. Ambulances and helicopters then transported victims to hospitals in Lausanne, Zurich, and other cities. “And then it was just ambulances coming back and forth,” said Dominic Dubois, who witnessed bodies being removed from the scene.

Identifying the Victims Remains a Painful Challenge

Investigators have begun the grim and painstaking task of identifying dozens of victims. Authorities warned that the process could take several days, as many of the bodies—mostly young partygoers—were badly burned.

As investigators sifted through debris, distraught parents of missing children made desperate appeals for information. Foreign embassies also rushed to determine whether their citizens were among those trapped in the inferno.

“Giving each body a name is the first objective,” said Nicolas Feraud, the mayor of Crans-Montana, during a press conference. “This work must be done carefully because the information is so sensitive that nothing can be communicated to families unless we are 100% certain.” He added that the identification process would be slow and methodical.

Switzerland Declares Five Days of Mourning

Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced five days of national mourning, describing the blaze as one of the most horrific incidents in the country’s history. Valais cantonal government head Mathias Reynard said, “This evening should have been a moment of celebration and togetherness, but it turned into a nightmare.”

France reported that eight of its citizens were missing and did not rule out the possibility that French nationals were among the dead. President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Swiss authorities to offer support, according to the French foreign ministry. Three survivors have already been transferred to hospitals in France, with further evacuations ongoing.

Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, told Sky TG24 that local authorities had indicated the fire may have been triggered by someone setting off a firework inside the bar. Investigations into the exact cause of the blaze are ongoing.