Shocking audio recordings of people calling for help from emergency services, as well as calls from doctors in Crans-Montana, have been made public, shedding light on the chaos of the night of the deadly fire at the Constellation bar.
According to official data, over 170 calls to emergency services were recorded that night alone. Alarmed witnesses, terrified victims, and shocked rescuers called nonstop, asking for help and providing information about the dramatic situation, which ended with 40 deaths and 116 injuries.
One of the most poignant calls comes from inside the bar, where an injured person is desperately pleading for help.
"I almost died at the Constellation. I think I was burned. The place is completely burned down. I believe my friends are dead inside. There must have been a lot of people. Please send an ambulance," he is heard saying.
The audio conversations also reflect the shock of the rescuers who arrived first on the scene, as well as the doctors who were faced with an extremely serious situation.
The discovery of these recordings coincides with the day when the Valais Cantonal Prosecutor's Office offered legal assistance to Italy. Rome prosecutors now have access to the investigation file, while the audio recordings have been officially included in the Sion Prosecutor's Office's file. In just one and a half hours, on New Year's Eve, 171 emergency calls were recorded.
Family members' anxiety
After news of the fire spread, worried family members began calling emergency services to find out if their relatives were among the victims.
In one of the conversations, a touching dialogue is heard:
— “There is a fire in Crans-Montana, my daughter is there and we have no news from her.”
— “I cannot give you information if your daughter is there.”
— “How many people are involved?”
— “About 100… I am sorry, I cannot give more information.”
