Horror moment Switzerland ski resort fire breaks out as 'at least 40' dead

Switzerland fire: Footage show flames spreading on ceiling

This is the horrifying moment a fire broke out at a bar in Switzerland, resulting in "at least 40" deaths. The blaze started at the Le Constellation Bar and Lounge in Crans-Montana during the festivities. Social media footage shows massive clouds of smoke filling the sky following the incident, which occurred at 1.30am local time.

The Italian foreign ministry said, according to local authorities, that "at least 40" people were killed. The commander of the Valais cantonal police added that "100 or so" have been injured. Two survivors of the fire claimed they saw it start when a candle hit the wooden roof of the bar's basement.

Images show the ceiling of the building catching fire. (Image: lenouvelliste/X)

French nationals Emma and Albane told BFMTV that a candle was "held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire". They said a waitress put "birthday candles" on some champagne bottles, one of which was then held up.

The pair told BFMTV: "In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood ... We were very lucky. [There were] about 200 people trying to get out within 30 seconds through some very narrow steps."

The women added that the bar's "exit door was quite small" and people had to break a window to get out. 

They said: "The exit door was quite small compared to the number of people present. Someone broke a window so that people could get out."

Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani said the fire could have been started by a "firecracker", though this has not been confirmed.

He told Sky TG24: "It seems to have been a tragedy caused by a fire, by some kind of explosion, by some firecracker thrown during New Year's celebrations.

"Our ambassador is about to arrive at the scene of the tragedy, and our consulate is setting up a task force to verify any Italians who may have been involved. We can't rule it out; we have no certain information."

A reporter from Swiss newspaper Blick described the fire as "one of the worst tragedies" in Switzerland's recent history.

He told Sky News: "It seems to be quite hard work. The amount of dead and injured is not clear, we only know that it's one of the worst tragedies in the younger history of this country.

"Investigations are still in progress so it's closed, only authorities are able to get any closer to the scene of the fire. I'm about 200 metres away and everything is closed by the authorities, it's not possible to see more at the moment."