The setting is geographically distant, but the details are a terrifying echo of what Brazil experienced in 2013. In the early hours of January 1st, the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, became the scene of a tragedy bearing drastic similarities to the Kiss nightclub fire. A fire broke out in the lounge bar. The Constellations It left at least 40 dead and 100 seriously injured, mostly young people between 18 and 30 years old.
The Italian government has entered a state of maximum alert. With approximately 30 Italian citizens reported missing in the region, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that identifying the victims is hampered by the severity of the burns. "There are many Italian surnames among the seriously injured. We are in constant contact with the Swiss authorities," Tajani stated.
The fatal similarities
Just like the tragedy in Santa Maria (RS), the disaster in Crans-Montana was a combination of negligence and structural failures:
- Indoor pyrotechnics: Witnesses report that the fire started when a waiter, standing on another waiter's shoulders, lifted a pyrotechnic birthday candle. The device hit the ceiling lining, instantly igniting the fire.
- Flammable coating: The place, decorated with plenty of wood and insulation materials, was consumed in a few minutes, generating toxic and lethal smoke.
- Single, obstructed exit: Reports indicate that the bar, which operated in a basement, had only one narrow escape route. "The door was too small for the number of people. It was a trap," described a French survivor.
International Mobilization
The Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, reported the desperation of Italian parents who are at hospitals in Sion and Lausanne seeking news. The building's structure is still unstable, preventing rescuers from accessing areas where more bodies may be located.
In Rome, President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed their deep sorrow. The tragedy occurs precisely at a time of celebration of... New Year (New Year), which amplifies the shock in the European community.
The bar The ConstellationsFounded in 2015, the establishment had already accumulated criticism on online platforms for lack of professionalism and safety issues, but continued to operate as one of the most popular après-ski spots in Switzerland.
