Sirens wailed through the thick fog of the Lausanne mountains, where black smoke continued to billow from a ravine more than 300 meters deep. Less than 30 minutes earlier, the luxury limousine carrying Celine Dion — the world’s legendary singer — lost control and plunged into the ravine while en route to the Montreux Palace hotel. Swiss police confirmed: “No one survived.” The news was like a knife cutting through the peaceful sky of the Alps, leaving the music world in a state of utter shock.

According to the initial report of the rescue team, the car crashed on a narrow, winding mountain road during a light snowfall. A witness, a tour bus driver, recounted: “I saw the car’s lights flash and disappear. Then there was an explosion from the bottom of the ravine, then smoke.” The first rescuers on the scene described the scene as “a picture of hell”: the car’s body was broken in two, smoke and burning gasoline mixed with the smell of hot metal.

The moment the firefighters found the license plate and confirmed that it was Dion’s limousine, everyone was silent. A member of the rescue team recounted: “We were still hoping that someone would open the door in time to escape. But when we saw the handbag, the personal microphone, and the silk scarf embroidered with Celine’s name, we knew…” — he trailed off in tears.

When the first images of the scene were leaked to social media, millions of people could not believe it. Under the red and blue lights of the ambulance, the car was just a distorted block of steel lying precariously on the mountainside. Police blocked the entire route, while cameras from international news agencies followed every movement to collect the debris. Many local people stopped their cars on the side of the road, lit candles and prayed, softly singing “My Heart Will Go On” in their choked sobs.

Paparazzi were there early to capture haunting images: a man kneeling in the white snow, holding a photo of Celine during her final concert in Tokyo. A group of fans carrying white lilies were stopped by police as they tried to cross the fence near the accident site. Global social media exploded within minutes with the hashtags #PrayForCelineDion and #GoodbyeCeline.

According to RTS, the limousine is suspected of losing control due to frozen brakes — a common occurrence when traveling for long periods in subzero temperatures. The driver, who has been with Dion for more than 12 years, was described as “obsessively cautious.” Some inside sources said that Celine had just left a promotional shoot for her new retrospective album, in a good mood, and even sent a video thanking fans before getting in the car. That was the last video she appeared on.

In Geneva, the central hospital was put on emergency alert, ready to receive the victim. But as the rescue team brought in a stretcher, all hope was dashed. A doctor who was directly present at the scene said through tears: “We did everything, CPR, defibrillator, oxygen, but there was no response. The pulse had stopped for too long.”

When the news broke, the world fell silent. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas — where Dion had performed for decades — immediately turned off the lights, leaving only a single candle burning all night. Canadian radio stations interrupted their routines, playing her classic hits on repeat. In Montreal, thousands gathered in the central square, tearfully singing “Because You Loved Me.”

In the cold night of Lausanne, the sky was suddenly lit by hundreds of flashlights from fans gathered around the blockade. They carried white flowers, candles, and handwritten letters to the “Queen of Ballads.” One elderly woman said: “I lived through every stage of her life, but I never thought this day would come.”

Colleagues around the world expressed their grief: Adele posted a black photo with the words “I owe my voice to her.” Mariah Carey wrote: “The woman who made the world believe in the power of love — rest in peace.” “We have lost a piece of the soul of our country,” the Canadian prime minister said at an emergency press conference.

Meanwhile, news agencies continued to update the car’s black box data. A police source revealed: “We are examining the possibility of mechanical failure combined with slippery snow and sharp curves. The driver may have tried to swerve to avoid another car.”

That night, millions of fans around the planet stayed up all night. They lit candles by their windows, re-sharing the moment Celine Dion smiled brightly on stage, her soaring voice tearing through the air. From New York to Paris, from Montreal to Tokyo, her music rang out again — this time not to celebrate, but to send off.

Before dawn, rescuers finally pulled all the victims’ bodies from the abyss. A white blanket covered the burned car, which, under the pale yellow light, reflected on the snow like a giant candle. International reporters described the scene as “heartbreakingly beautiful” — where death and light collided in a final farewell.

As the first sun rose, Lausanne fell into absolute silence. A billboard beside the motorway read: “Goodbye, Celine. The world will never forget you.”