Ruth Sherlock

I told myself I wasn't going to make it.

He pushed his way up the one narrow staircase and smashed a window to escape.

Witnesses outside the bar described seeing people coming out, some with their clothes still on fire.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.

Officials say it was not a deliberate attack.

Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.

An investigation is underway in the resort town of Kranz-Montana in the Swiss Alps.

Officials do say this was not a deliberate attack.

Overnight, mourners gathered in the freezing temperatures, holding vigils and laying candles and flowers outside the bar.

And this bar, La Constellation, was a favoured hangout for young people, including sometimes teenagers as young as 15.

This fire happened during a crowded New Year's Eve celebration.

At about 1.30am, smoke was reported coming out onto the street.

Police say emergency services got there in minutes, but it was already too late.

The regional intensive care ward is full and some of those with the most severe burns have been flown to Italy for specialist treatment.

Well, I mean, just awful eyewitness accounts.

This was a basement nightclub and 16-year-old Axel Clavier described trying to get out from there to the BBC.

He says, we thought we were going to suffocate because of the smoke.

We didn't know where to exit.

There was a huge crowd and I was alone.

I told myself I wasn't going to make it.