As the resort town of Crans-Montana reels from the news of a tragic fire at a New Year's Eve party, a witness has recalled hearing screams and seeing people covered in blood in the aftermath of the bar blaze.
Around 40 people are believed dead and 115 others are injured, according to local authorities.
Many are suffering from serious injuries, including burns.
The fire started at Le Constellation bar about 1:30am, local time, on January 1 after a crowd of young people packed into the venue to ring in the new year.
"I thought it was like [a] fight, like usual, maybe when people are drunk. But at the end … people start[ed] to scream," witness Ariel Amar, from Geneva, told the ABC.
"And after I've seen a guy pass next to me, covered in blood, burned.
"Even my brother came to help over there. So it was really shocking to see something like this, even when there was so much people, a lot of young people."
It is not yet known what caused the blaze but witnesses have told media outlets patrons were waving sparklers close to the basement bar's wooden ceiling at the time the fire broke out.
The sparklers were reportedly attached to champagne bottles.
"The sparks flew up to the ceiling and the whole thing caught fire. In a few seconds, the entire ceiling was on fire," one witness, Julie, told The Times.
Officials said the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what firefighters call a flashover or backdraft.
As the flames quickly spread, a crowd of people surged to the exit.
Eyewitness accounts suggest revellers made their way out of the basement using a narrow staircase or picked up furniture to smash through windows.
"I thought I was either going to die or I'd manage to get out," eyewitness Nathan said.
"But the only way was through a window, but the windows were blocked, so I grabbed a table and tried to smash it against a window.
"I couldn't, and I thought, well, I'm going to die. But finally, I managed to kick the glass, it broke, and then we got out."
First responders were quick to arrive on the scene but faced a difficult task treating a flood of injured people.
Mr Amar said emergency services appeared to be "overwhelmed", at least at first, as they began triaging revellers.
"The fire started really quickly, so they didn't [know] maybe how to act with this many people injured," he said.
"A lot of people helped them."
'They still haven't found the children missing'
Parents of missing children have been making their way to nearby hospitals in search of any news about their loved ones.
[MAP]"We have some friends who went to the hospital directly to looking for their children, and they still haven't found the children missing," Mr Amar said.
"So it's terrifying."
Swiss officials said it could take days before they name all the victims.
Mathias Reynard, head of government of the canton of Valais, told Reuters that experts were using dental and DNA samples for the task.
"All this work needs to be done because the information is so terrible and sensitive that nothing can be told to the families unless we are 100 per cent sure," he said.
Bar was popular for young people
Located in south-western Switzerland, Crans-Montana is a popular spot for wealthy foreign tourists visiting during the ski season.
Witnesses said the bar where the blaze broke out was a regular meeting place for younger clientele.
"It's really popular when you're a bit young, when [you're] from 16 or 17 years old. But some friends, all the little boys go there," Mr Amar said.
"When I was younger, I went there.
"So it's shocking."
Many of those at the venue at the time of the blaze were aged between 15 and 20 years old.
It is already feared the blaze could be one of Switzerland's biggest disasters given the number of people impacted.
Vigils as locals recall 'horror movie' blaze
As residents come to terms with the tragedy, dozens of people have begun leaving flowers on a makeshift altar at the top of the road leading to the bar.
Others have gathered around the vigil to stand in silence or light candles, some hugging each other for support.
"It was like a horror movie," Ilan Achour, 26, told Reuters.
"I lost my best friend, who was in my arms. We tried to revive her. There were firefighters, there were police officers, everyone was everywhere. It was insane."
Another local told the outlet that the blaze was a reminder tragedy could strike anywhere.
"You think you're safe here but this can happen anywhere. They were people like us," Piermarco Pani, 18, said.
Police have cordoned off most of the area near the blaze as the search begins to find its cause.
ABC/wires
