Around 40 people were killed and over 100 injured, including one Australian, when a fire ripped through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana as young revellers rang in the New Year.
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 30 January, after the fire broke out in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Frederic Gisler, police commander in the Wallis canton in south-western Switzerland, told reporters authorities had counted "around 40 people who have died and around 115 injured, most of them seriously".
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told SBS News the department was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who was injured and receiving medical care following the fire.
"DFAT is making urgent enquiries with local authorities to determine whether any other Australians were impacted. We stand ready to provide consular assistance," the spokesperson said.
Authorities said about 40 people have been killed in the fire. Source: AFP / Maxime Schmid
Alexis Laguerre, 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," Laguerre 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 they had escaped the "panic" in the bar shortly after the fire broke out.
They said "birthday candles" placed on champagne bottles had got too close to the ceiling.
"Seconds later, the entire ceiling was burning," one of them told the broadcaster, estimating there were around 200 people in the venue at the time, mainly aged between 15 and 20.
Local hospital full
A tourist from New York, who filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, told Agence France-Presse he saw people running and screaming.
Authorities said they were still investigating the causes of the fire, which erupted shortly before 1:30am local time, but said they did not believe it had been caused by an "attack".
The emergency unit at the main hospital in the Wallis was full, with the injured being transported to various hospitals across Switzerland.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin (centre) said the fire was "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced". Source: AFP / Alessandro Della Valle
The European Union said it has been in contact with Swiss authorities about providing medical assistance.
Victims come from several countries
Swiss authorities said investigations were underway to identify the victims, but acknowledged that given Crans-Montana's popularity with tourists around the world, they expected a number of foreign nationals to be among the dead.
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani told Italian broadcaster Rete4 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 an additional 40 on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.
Police are still investigating the cause of the fire at Le Constellation bar. Source: AFP / Maxime Schmid
Ambulances were still parked outside the bar hours later, and broken windows could be seen.
Wallis's chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said significant resources were being mobilised "to identify the victims and return their bodies as quickly as possible to the families".
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