Croms-montana: Swiss authorities are investigating a massive fire that rocked a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations, initially believed to have been caused by sparklers ignited inside the bar. The government has declared five days of mourning for the at least 40 people who died in the blaze.

According to Thai News Agency, officials investigating the cause of the fire that engulfed a bar in Croms-Montana on New Year's Eve have determined that sparklers lit on champagne bottles were likely the cause of the blaze. Images shared on social media showed a group of people holding champagne bottles with sparklers placed close to the bar's ceiling.

It is also possible that the foam-like material used in the ceiling contributed to the fire spreading more easily. A former firefighter stated that this material was the same type used to clad the Grenfell Tower in London, which engulfed it in a rapid and severe fire in 2017, killing 72 people. Several other factors could have contributed to the fire, including the fact that there were reportedly more than one exit door, which victims could not find, and the bar's safety regulations.

Meanwhile, many of the deceased were so badly burned that they were unrecognizable, making identification difficult. Officials are using DNA samples for analysis, a process expected to take several weeks. Of the 119 injured, 71 are Swiss, 14 French, and 11 Italian, with the remainder from various European countries. The nationality of 14 of them is currently unknown.

The Swiss government declared five days of mourning. President Guy Permalyn said the fire was an unprecedented tragedy that claimed the lives of many young people who were the hope of the nation. The government has a responsibility to these people and must find ways to prevent such an event from happening again.