"Axel Clavier felt like he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he'd been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other revelers. The 16-year-old from Paris escaped the inferno, which broke out after midnight Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier's friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history."
"The blaze also injured about 115 people, many of them in their teens to mid-20s, as it ripped through the crowded Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said. Clavier told The Associated Press that "two or three" of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster. Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial near the bar. Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station."
"Pope Leo sent a telegram Friday to the bishop of Sion to express condolences to the region and pray that "the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies." Representatives from France and Italy said their nationals are among the missing."
An inferno broke out after midnight at the crowded Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during New Year's celebrations, killing about 40 partygoers and injuring roughly 115 people, many in their teens to mid-20s. A 16-year-old escaped by forcing a window open with a table, but several friends remained missing. Mourners left candles and flowers and hundreds prayed at a nearby church. Officials are identifying the dead and informing families while investigating the fire's cause. Regional leaders praised citizens' and emergency workers' courageous rescue efforts and described the community as devastated. Nationals from France and Italy are among the missing.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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