Deadly fire devastates Swiss ski resort during New Year’s celebration

A Swiss ski community is mourning after a deadly fire tore through a bar at a luxury resort during New Year’s celebrations, killing dozens and injuring more than 100 people.

(CNN)- A Swiss ski community is mourning after a deadly fire tore through a bar at a luxury resort during New Year’s celebrations, killing dozens and injuring more than 100 people.

Officials say the fire broke out inside a bar at the resort as crowds gathered to ring in the new year. Authorities have not yet confirmed what sparked the blaze, and investigators say identifying all victims could take days. Some of those killed or injured are believed to be foreign nationals.

“It is a tragedy,” said one witness, adding that many of the victims were young people visiting for the holidays.

Investigators are still working to determine whether the bar was overcrowded or if structural factors — such as the width of a staircase — may have contributed to the deadly conditions. Some witnesses say a holiday tradition involving sparklers may have played a role.

“A barmaid would get on a barmaid’s shoulders and hold a champagne bottle with these sparklers,” said CNN correspondent Nic Robertson. “Witnesses described how the ceiling caught fire, and then suddenly that fire ripped through this underground space.”

Medical experts warn that fires in enclosed spaces can be especially deadly.

“Those who do survive can have massive injuries that can threaten life in the hours to follow,” said Dr. Mark Fisher, director of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center. “There can also be long-term disfigurement and disability.”

Hospitals across the region are treating the injured, while witnesses say nearby residents and businesses rushed to help in the chaotic aftermath.

“All the nearby residences, restaurants — everyone who was still awake helped with water, tea, blankets,” said witness Dominic Dubois. “It was a big shock.”

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as the community mourns one of the deadliest tragedies in the area’s history.