A devastating fire at a Swiss bar has left authorities racing to identify the victims, as the country grapples with one of its worst tragedies. The fire, which broke out around 1:30 am at Le Constellation, a popular bar among young tourists, has left around 40 people dead and at least 115 injured, many seriously. The exact number of people at the bar when the fire started remains unclear, and police have not specified how many are still missing. The bar had a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website. The Swiss President, Guy Parmelin, described the fire as a "calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions", and announced that flags would be flown at half mast for five days. Authorities have declined to speculate on what caused the tragedy, but several witness accounts have pointed to sparklers mounted on champagne bottles as a possible cause. The investigation will look into whether the bar met safety standards and had the required number of exits. The tragedy has left families and friends in agonizing wait, with some trying to find their loved ones through social media. The European Union has offered medical assistance, while French President Emmanuel Macron said some of the injured were being cared for in French hospitals. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said around 15 Italians had been injured, and a similar number remained missing. The fire has sparked a debate on safety standards and the responsibility of bar owners, with many questioning whether the bar met the necessary safety requirements. The bar owners, a French couple originally from Corsica, are safe but unreachable since the tragedy. The incident has left a community in shock and grief, with many questioning the circumstances that led to such a devastating fire. The investigation into the cause of the fire and the safety standards of the bar is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the victims and return their bodies to their families as quickly as possible.
