Switzerland is reeling from one of its worst tragedies after a fire ripped through an Alpine bar during a New Year’s Eve celebration, leaving about 40 people dead and dozens of others with serious burn injuries.
Officials have said the fire appears to have started from “sparklers put on bottles of champagne that were moved too close to the ceiling”.
The blaze at Le Constellation bar, which had a maximum capacity of about 300 people, started at about 1.30am (0030 GMT) as revellers were ringing in the new year. Police arrived within minutes but the bar was already in flames.
The basement venue with its dancefloor is known to be a place where young locals and seasonal workers would gather.
With no entrance fee, it attracted a young crowd and many of the victims are teenagers.
Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old Italian international golfer who lived in Dubai, was named on Friday as the first of several possible victims from Italy to be identified.
Guardian US live news editor Chris Michael reports from Crans-Montana in the aftermath of the tragedy.
