A tragic fire claimed the lives of at least 40 individuals at a Swiss ski resort on New Year’s Eve.
The incident occurred on December 31, during New Year’s celebrations at the Crans-Montana resort in Switzerland, when a fire erupted and quickly engulfed the area.
This shocking event has resulted in the death of at least 40 people, while over 100 individuals have sustained injuries, according to authorities on January 1.
Among the injured is French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos, who has been reported to suffer from severe burns due to the catastrophe.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined as of yesterday, according to Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud. She emphasized, “At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack.”
She further noted that the exact number of people in the Constellation Bar at the time is ‘currently totally unknown’. Evaluating the bar’s maximum capacity will form part of the investigation.
When asked about arrests related to the incident, she mentioned, “For the time being, we don’t have any suspect.” She clarified that an investigation has been initiated, not targeting any individual, but to uncover the circumstances surrounding this devastating fire.
As officials work to determine the cause, families face an excruciating wait to confirm the fate of their loved ones caught in the blaze.
As reported by BBC News, Swiss authorities have indicated that identifying all the victims could take several days or even weeks.
Regional governor Mathias Reynard conveyed last night, as per the news source: “We are painfully aware that identifying the bodies, as well as the injured, may still take a terribly long time for the families involved.”
A representative for the Canton Valais Police assured that they are maintaining communication with families and that support teams are available to offer psychological care.
The fire has been characterized as a ‘flashover’—a phenomenon where all combustible materials in an enclosed area ignite almost simultaneously.
As explained by Fire Engineering: “A flashover occurs when all of the combustible materials in a room or compartment reach their ignition temperatures at the same time.”
“Although not all fuels in a room have the same ignition temperature, the heat is rising so rapidly that the temperatures are all reached during this period of rapid heat buildup.”
“The heat that normally accumulates at the upper level in the compartment cannot absorb heat as fast as it is being created.”
Richard Hagger, president of the UK Association of Fire Investigators, explained that this type of fire can spread “within a matter of seconds”.
“The room, in effect, becomes a full room on fire within a matter of seconds,” he explained to the BBC regarding flashover fires.
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