Tragedies in Rouen, Brazil... Before Crans-Montana, other deadly fires in bars and nightclubs

A tragedy that recalls others. Before the terrible fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve, which is feared to have resulted in "several dozen" fatalities, other devastating fires have previously ravaged bars or nightclubs during events.

While authorities in the Valais canton have announced the opening of an investigation into the fire, they are not yet commenting on the causes of the Crans-Montana tragedy. However, several testimonies point to a potential cause for the disaster.

Reports from various Swiss, French, and Italian media indicate that sparklers attached to bottles held aloft by one person on another's shoulders triggered the fire by coming into contact with the ceiling. These witnesses added that this was a "show" that was typical for the establishment.

"It seems to me that there were ladies, waitresses, with bottles of champagne and little rockets. They were too, too close to the ceiling, and suddenly it caught fire," recounted Axel, who was present at the time of the tragedy, to the Italian media Local Team.

Historically, since 1970, there have been at least forty fires worldwide resulting in over 2,500 deaths and thousands of injuries in bars, cafes, or nightclubs, notes Ouest-France.