SERBIA

“I FELT THE FLAME ON MY FACE”: Testimony of Meldin from Novi Pazar Who Survived the Tragedy in Kran Montana!

by Serbian Times3. January 2026.3. January 2026.

He fortunately survived the tragedy and sustained minor bodily injuries, but the scenes he witnessed left a deep mark.

In the horrific fire that broke out during New Year’s Eve and engulfed a hospitality venue in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Kran Montana, among those present in the establishment was young Novi Pazar native Meldin Mehmedović.

He fortunately survived the tragedy and sustained minor bodily injuries, but the scenes he witnessed left a deep mark.

Meldin was born and raised in the suburban Novi Pazar neighborhood of Požega. In a statement to Swiss television, he described in detail the moments when, according to him, the fire broke out, emphasizing that everything happened suddenly and at lightning speed.

„STEFANA NEMA OD NOVOGODIŠNJE NOĆI, I BRAT GA TRAŽI“: Oglasila se porodica nestalog Srbina u Švajcarskoj, otkrila nove detalje!

The atmosphere was cheerful, people were laughing, dancing, celebrating. At one moment the staff were carrying drinks, champagne bottles with lit sparklers. One bottle was raised too high and the flame caught the ceiling. Everything caught fire in a second. There was a strong deflagration and the fire spread instantly. I didn’t even see how it started, I just bent down and felt the flame coming toward my face – Mehmedović recounted.

Swiss Kran-Montana fire Photo: screenshot X, Police Cantonale Valaisanne/Police Cantonale Valaisanne

He states that there were foam panels on the ceiling used for sound insulation, which, as suspected, were extremely flammable. According to the initial findings of the investigation, this may have been one of the key reasons why the fire spread at such speed and caused a large number of deaths and injuries in a very short time.

Thanks to a quick reaction and survival instinct, Meldin managed to move away from the affected area before the fire engulfed the entire building. Medical teams provided him assistance on the spot, after which he was released for home treatment.

SRBIN POVREĐEN U POŽARU U ŠVAJCARSKOJ: Izgorele su mu obe šake, ali nije životno ugrožen!

This is something a person does not forget. Everything happened in a few seconds. I am grateful that I stayed alive – said the young man from Novi Pazar, reports Sandžak danas.

The investigation into the causes of this tragedy in Kran Montana is still ongoing, and the relevant Swiss institutions are announcing a detailed review of safety standards in venues for mass gatherings.