GB News presenter Ben Leo issued a breaking news alert (Image: GB News)

GB News issued a breaking news alert as Swiss officials issued an update on the devastating chalet fire in the Crans-Montana ski resort, which claimed the lives of 47 people so far. Presenting the show, Ben Leo said: “On the ground in Switzerland, the death toll is still at 47, we believe, but the development now is, as feared yesterday, that it was champagne sparklers blamed for that inferno. What do we know about the soundproofing foam from the ceiling inside that bar? There was a line that was going around yesterday, which we couldn’t confirm. What do we know for sure with regard to that?”

With a visual of Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud issuing the statement in the background, news reporter Will Godley replied in the studio: “Well, that soundproofing foam we’ve seen in footage shared widely on social media was used and shared widely in reports as well.

GB News reporter Will Godley shared an update on the Swiss chalet fire (Image: GB News)

“That soundproofing foam was what caught the fire initially from these sparklers, which were on about four or five champagne bottles held up by people in the bar. We don’t know if they are people who were working there or by partygoers welcoming in the new year, but these champagne bottles with the sparklers on held too close to the ceiling and that soundproof foaming caught on fire ignited and then as people in the bar try to put that fire out using their t-shirts to bash the fire, that inadvertently spread the fire further onto the ceiling spreading throughout the ground floor, the basement of this bar in a few dozen seconds.

“Eyewitnesses said yesterday and now in the press conference that’s still underway, officials are now confirming that theory, the Attorney General Beatrice Pollute has said they’re sparing no efforts in order to determine the circumstances of this tragic event.

“It would appear that the fire started from sparkler candles otherwise known as flares which were placed on top of champagne bottles. These flares were taken too close to the ceiling. This led to what’s referred to a flashover incident where the fire spread very rapidly.

“They went on to say we will investigate whether individuals, any individuals bear criminal liability for this incident and if that is the case and if these people are alive all investigations will be opened for fire by negligence, homicide by negligence and injuries by negligence.

“So that’s the update from the Attorney General in Valais, Beatrice Pollute speaking in the last few minutes at this press conference.”