"Moments before flames and smoke engulfed the bar in Switzerland where 40 people died, staff were seen holding aloft sparklers stuck in Champagne bottles, videos posted online showed. The mini-fireworks were being waved near the basement bar's low wooden ceiling, covered in thin soundproofing fabric, according to the images on social media. One video showed the ceiling catching alight and the flames spreading quickly -- but revellers initially continuing to dance, unaware of the death trap they were in."
"A young man is seen attempting to extinguish the flames with a large white cloth. Authorities investigating the deadly blaze said they suspected that "sparklers or Bengal candles" sparked the fire. Witness accounts later relayed to various media said the sparkler parade was a regular "show" for patrons in the bar, which typically drew a young crowd. The flames spread with terrifying speed in the bar, in the Swiss luxury ski resort town Crans-Montana, which was packed with New Year's Eve partygoers."
"'Explosion' Elliot Alvarez, a local who had been at a next-door bar with friends, told AFP: "We received a call from a friend who was clearly panicked on the phone and explained that there had apparently been an explosion." When he and his friends arrived at the scene, they found the place crawling with emergency responders and "people on the ground being treated, people coming out, burned"."
Staff waved sparklers stuck in Champagne bottles near a low wooden ceiling covered in thin soundproofing fabric above a packed basement bar. One video captured the ceiling catching alight and flames spreading quickly while revellers initially continued to dance. A young man was seen attempting to extinguish the blaze with a large white cloth. Authorities suspect "sparklers or Bengal candles" sparked the fire. Witnesses said the sparkler parade was a regular show for a young crowd. The flames spread with terrifying speed in the luxury ski resort town Crans-Montana, prompting immediate emergency response as people scrambled and were treated for burns.
Read at www.thelocal.ch
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