The New Year’s tragedy in Crans Montana (Switzerland) It has shocked the entire world. Confirmed by an explosion and the subsequent fire in a busy bar in the Swiss town, now everything is questions. And many of them focus on the security of the premises where the misfortune occurred.
The emergency services received the first notices at around 1:30 in the morning, in the middle of the new year party that was celebrated inside the premises Le Constellationone of the busiest in a Christmas tourist destination such as Crans Montana.
The sound of the ambulances collapsed everything and also woke up local residents. It is the case of Antonio Bandiraliwho has a house just over a kilometer from the bar. Hearing the sirens “I thought someone in the mountain huts had gotten sick and needed medical assistance,” as .
Around 8 in the morning, Antonio went to the area and was able to take some photos. “Someone probably had a firecracker, and that’s what started it all.”
The deficiencies of the premises
Hours later he would discover the reality, that a place he knows well was devastated. “I have been there several times for coffee.but I have always stayed on the upper floor,” he explains, knowing that there is a basement, where the fire broke out.
Antonio, already retired, He worked all his life as head of security at the Joint Research Center of the European Union in Ispra. And from his experience he draws lessons about the security of Le Constellationthe tragic epicenter of the misfortune in Crans Montana.
“Based on my professional experience, I believe there were serious security deficiencies at Le Constellation. A disaster like this could never have happened in Italy, because we have regulations to prevent similar events,” explains the transalpine citizen residing in Switzerland.
In his interview with The Republic details that Italy requires by law that in addition to the entrance door, there is an emergency exit of 1.20 meters for every 75 people. “There were more than 300 people there, so At least five doors would have been needed, but apparently there was only one.“.
“Also, in an underground room, everything from the chairs to the ceiling must be fireproof. It is impossible for a single flame to cause a fire like this if everything complies with the regulations“he points out regretfully.
About the ceilings refers the intumescent paint, which reacts to heat by swelling in a controlled manner until its volume multiplies up to ten times, thus creating a layer that protects the structure.
Regarding what was found outside the Crans Montana location, he admits that “now we mourn the victims, who are practically impossible to recognize because they died charred.”
However, there is another emergency, absolutely vital, with more than 100 people injured. “We have the enormous problem of caring for the numerous intoxicated people: They need hyperbaric chambers, and each hospital only has one, two at most. So they are transferring them to hospitals throughout Switzerland in the hope of saving as many as possible,” he concludes.
