CRANS-MONTANA (SWITZERLAND): Several dozen people were presumed dead, and about 100 others were wounded, many of them gravely, after a major fire at a bar in the Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana in Switzerland during New Year celebrations.
According to the police, the fire broke out at Le Constellation bar around 1.30 am (local time) when revellers were celebrating the New Year.
Emergency response teams rushed to the scene and took the injured to hospital. Most of them suffered burn injuries and were undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the area.
Explosions were also reported at the site after the fire, triggering fear and speculation of a terrorist attack. However, the Swiss police ruled out the terror attack angle, but the exact cause of the fire was still unknown.
While the official number of casualties is not confirmed, the authorities said several dozen were presumed dead, with at least 100 injured. According to media reports, Swiss police confirmed at least 40 casualties.
The victims are of several different nationalities, and efforts are underway to identify them. At least two French nationals are among those injured in the fire, France’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
After receiving the information about the fire, authorities sent 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 responders to the scene. The search and rescue operation is likely to continue into the coming days.
“Significant resources have been deployed from a forensic medicine perspective, primarily to identify the victims,” said Beatrice Pilloud, prosecutor general of the canton, or state, during the news conference.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin cancelled his New Year’s address after the fire tragedy. In a social media post, Parmelin said, “What should have been a moment of joy turned into a night of mourning in Crans-Montana, affecting the whole of Switzerland and abroad.”
Earlier reports had suggested that there was an explosion at the bar. This triggered speculation that it could be a terrorist attack. However, Swiss authorities ruled out an attack in a briefing, but the cause of the fire was still unknown.
Unverified video footage from outside the bar has also surfaced. The video, reportedly shot by a tourist, shows people outside the bar as the fire rages inside the building.
Agencies