Young people in the Swiss town of Sion said on Friday (January 2) that the deadly fire in a ski resort bar was "shocking" and a "reality check" that made them realise they could have been dead if they had decided to attend that party.

"It's so close to us that we might have gone there," said U.S. student Eloan Atiso, 18.

"It's one of the places you go to, " said one other U.S. student on holiday, Sony Obomwo, 18.

The blaze that engulfed the crowded bar at a New Year's Eve party on Thursday (January 1) killed around 40 people and injured 115.

Lennie Sautier, 20, said he still has not heard from his best friend.

Since the early hours of the Friday morning, police secured the area near the bar where the fire took place with barricade tape, barriers and tents.

What caused the blaze was unclear. Swiss authorities said it appeared to be an accident rather than an attack.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SION, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. AMBULANCE DRIVING BY

2. MOUNTAIN

3. SWISS FLAG

4. BALLOON READING (English): "HAPPY NEW YEAR"

5. PEOPLE WALKING

6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) STUDENT FROM U.S. ON HOLIDAYS, ELOAN ATISO, 18 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"It's just, it's just like horrible because it kind of makes it feel real, that because in a way we had a chance of being there. I don't know if you know what I mean, but like it's so close to us that we might have gone there, even though we didn't go there. There was a significant chance that we ended up dead because we decided to go party."

7. BUS STATION

8. (SOUNDBITE)(French) STUDENT FROM FRANCE LIVING IN SWITZERLAND, LENNI SAUTIER, 20 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

“I have loved ones who were affected. My best friend, I still haven’t heard from her, I still don’t know where she is. That’s shocking. And so, you realize that this can really happen to anyone. Life doesn’t stop, we have to keep enjoying it, but it’s a slap in the face, a reality check.”

9. (SOUNDBITE)(English) STUDENT FROM U.S. ON HOLIDAYS, SONY OBOMWO, 18 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"Yeah, the fact that it's so close, close proximity, it's one of those places you go to, you know. Everyone goes to bars to party and do those things. It's weird. It's eye-opening, and it gave me a sense of gratitude."

10. EXTERIOR OF SION HOSPITAL

11. VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE OF EMERGENCY AREA AT SION HOSPITAL

12. SIGN INDICATING HOSPITAL'S ENTRANCE

13. SION'S HOSPITAL EXTERIORS

CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

14. VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING NEAR BARRIERS SURROUNDING FIRE SITE

15. VARIOUS OF BARRIERS SURROUNDING BAR WHERE FIRE HAPPENED

16. AMBULANCE PARKED AND POLICE STANDING NEAR FIRE SITE

17. BARRIERS SURROUNDING FIRE SITE