Journal De Bruxelles - Dozens killed as fire ravages Swiss ski resort New Year party

Horrified bystanders described "panic" as people tried to break through the windows of the bar to escape, and others, covered in burns, poured into the street.

Police, firefighters and rescuers rushed to the popular resort, which is set to host the Ski World Cup from January 30, after the fire broke out in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Frederic Gisler, police commander in the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, told reporters that authorities had counted "around 40 people who have died and around 115 injured, most of them seriously".

Thursday evening, around 400 people gathered for a church service in Crans-Montana in honour of the the victims, while Bern announced that flags would be flown at half mast for five days.

This was "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced", Guy Parmelin, who took over the Swiss presidency on Thursday, told reporters.

"It constitutes a calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions.".

- 'In shock' -

Alexis Lagger, an 18-year-old, had been walking with a group of friends past the Le Constellation bar, a popular spot with young people and tourists, when they noticed smoke and flames emerging from the venue and called the police. "I am in shock," Lagger told Swiss public broadcaster RTS.

"People were running through the flames. People were using chairs to try to break the windows."

Two young French women, Emma and Albane, told French broadcaster BFMTV that they had been able to escape the "panic" in the bar shortly after the fire broke out.

They said "birthday candles" placed on champagne bottles had gotten too close to the ceiling.

"Seconds later, the entire ceiling was burning," one of them told the broadcaster, estimating that there were around 200 people in the venue at the time, mainly aged between 15 and 20.

A tourist from New York, who filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, told AFP he saw people running and screaming.

Authorities said they were still investigating the causes of the fire, which erupted shortly before 1:30 am (0030 GMT), but said they did not believe it had been caused by an "attack".

The emergency units at Wallis hospitals had filled up, and many of the injured were transported to various hospitals across Switzerland, as neighbouring countries also offering to step up.

More than 30 victims had been taken to hospitals in Zurich and Lausanne, which have specialised burn units, and six had been taken to Geneva, Switzerland's Keystone-ATS news agency reported.

The European Union said it has been in contact with Swiss authorities about providing medical assistance, while French President Emmanuel Macron said some of the injured were already being cared for in French hospitals.

- Rush to identify victims -

Swiss authorities said investigations were underway to identify the victims, warning the process "could take several days, even weeks".

Given Crans-Montana's popularity with tourists around the world, a police statement said it was clear "the victims have diverse nationalities".

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian broadcaster Rete4 that around 15 Italians had been injured in the fire, and a similar number remained missing.

At least two French citizens were among the injured, according to initial reports from the French foreign ministry.

Le Constellation has a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.

The bar is owned by a French couple, according to a local business registry and friends of the owners.

- 'Screaming for help' -

Early reports had suggested a large explosion might have caused the fire.

But Wallis's chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said the initial investigation indicated that it was "the fire that caused the explosion", and not the other way around.

"There is absolutely no question of a terrorist attack," she said.

Alex, 21, told RTS that he had arrived at the scene shortly after a loud explosion sounded.

Then he said he remembered that there was only a narrow set of stairs up from a large basement locale in the building, and worried dozens might remain trapped.

"That sent shivers down my spine," he said.

W.Lievens--JdB