Tears and stunned silence at vigil for Swiss fire victims

Hundreds gathered in silence in the freezing night in Crans-Montana on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles to remember those killed in a blaze while celebrating the New Year.

At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media Thursday.

The fire broke out at Le Constellation bar shortly after midnight, triggering a major emergency response. Dozens of ambulances and helicopters were deployed, and injured victims were transferred to hospitals across Switzerland and some abroad, including specialised burn units.

A criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Many of those who came to mourn the tragedy stood, motionless, overlooking the scene. People spoke in whispers, if at all.

"I wasn't (at the bar) myself, but I had many friends and relatives who were," said one young mourner, who gave his surname as Orosstevic.

"Some died, others are in the hospital. About 10," he told AFP.

"They're mostly friends of my parents, but I know them very well."

Orosstevic said he had bought flowers to lay down "as a small tribute".

"May they rest in peace."

Shock

Nearby, some friends hugged, sobbing. Men stood looking straight ahead with stunned, damp eyes.

Mathys, from neighbouring Chermignon-d'en-Bas, told AFP at the vigil: "It's a bar where we meet up with lots of friends, really, almost every weekend. It was one of the only weekends we weren't there.

"We thought it was just a small fire -- but when we got there, it was war. That's the only word I can use to describe it: the apocalypse. It was terrible."

Paulo Martins, a French citizen who has lived in the area for 24 years, told AFP: "My son could very well have been in there. He wasn't far away.

"He was with his girlfriend; they were supposed to go in. And in the end, they didn't make it there," he said.

"When he came home, he was really in shock."

A friend of his 17-year-old son has been transferred for treatment in Germany, with his body 30 percent covered in burns.

Mourners laid tributes on a table temporarily put up at the entrance of the road leading down to the bar, which was blocked from view by white screens.

Two police officers stood guard at the cordon.

A steady stream of people brought candles and flowers.

As the table filled, people began to place individual candles on the frozen ground.

Some of those gathered could barely voice their emotions.

"There are dead and injured, and we have someone close to us who is still missing. We have no news of them," said one woman who did not want to be identified.

After laying flowers with her friend, they walked away, arm in arm.

"They were young people, and people we know," said another woman, who declined to give her name.

Asked whether she knew what happened to them, she said: "Some, no."

Pain

The Christmas lights are still twinkling in the town, but several bars closed out of respect.

Earlier, at the Montana-Station church, a mass remembered those who had lost their lives.

"There were a lot of people, it was very solemn, and there was a beautiful sermon about hope. At least let us have that: hope," said local churchgoer Jean-Claude.

One young man, who could barely speak due to the emotion, said: "We just knew a lot of friends of friends who were there. And we pay them respect."

One mourner, Mina, said her son frequented the popular bar.

"Last night, it was just a coincidence that he wasn't there," she told AFP.

"There is a waitress he knows, she serves him all the time, he's very friendly with her and unfortunately, she's gone."

Veronica, an elderly Italian mourner who has lived in Crans-Montana for 40 years, wiped a stream of tears from her cheeks.

She said: "The pain of others is everyone's pain."