Sad news from Switzerland. According to currently unconfirmed information, a Serbian man was among those killed in the massive fire that broke out during the New Year’s celebration at a bar in Crans-Montana, Serbian Times has learned. The identity of the individual has not yet been revealed, but he is reportedly originally from Central Serbia.
The “Constellation” bar, which burned down for reasons yet to be determined, was a favorite hangout for our people living in Crans-Montana and surrounding areas. Several of our compatriots also worked there occasionally, mostly during the winter tourist season.
Approximately 40 people died in the explosion at the bar in the exclusive Swiss ski resort, but that number is not final. About 100 people were injured. For now, it is suspected that pyrotechnics caused the fire and explosion, and an investigation is underway.
The explosion occurred at 1:30 AM local time at the Constellation bar, police said. According to initial reports, there were over 250 guests in the bar. Videos circulating on social media show the fire in the bar where the New Year’s celebration was being held.
Doctor Describes Horrific Scenes
A doctor who was there on vacation was among the first on the scene after the tragedy and described the chilling moments to the Swiss outlet RTS.
“Those were scenes of unbelievable panic. It was like the Bataclan, but without weapons. The massive number of people there was shocking. They were lying everywhere on the ground, everyone had burns, and other young people were performing CPR on them,” the doctor recounted.
“We Have Hypotheses on the Cause of the Fire”
A second press conference is being held regarding the catastrophic explosion.
General Prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire. “There are currently several hypotheses. Our main hypothesis is that one room caught fire, which then led to the explosion,” she said.
Serbian Embassy: No Serbs Among the Victims!
The Serbian Embassy in Switzerland issued an urgent statement regarding the tragedy.
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Swiss Confederation is in constant contact with the authorities in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. As they emphasized to Blic, at this moment, there is no information indicating that citizens of the Republic of Serbia are among the dead or injured.
The Embassy also notes that due to the scale of the tragedy, police services are currently unable to provide precise information regarding foreign nationals, but the Embassy remains in regular communication with the relevant services should any kind of assistance be required.
Source: Serbian Times Photo: Maxime Schmid /AFP / Profimedia /Ringier