Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others seriously injured after a major fire broke out in a crowded bar during New Year’s celebrations in the Swiss ski
resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said on Thursday.
The blaze erupted at around 1.30am on January 1 at ‘Le Constellation’, a popular bar in the Valais resort, according to cantonal police. More than 100 people were inside the venue at the time of the incident.
“Several dozen people are presumed dead,” Frédéric Gisler, police commander for canton Valais, told a press conference on Thursday morning. He added that approximately 100 people had sustained serious injuries. “At the time of writing, all the injured have been treated.”
The injured were transported to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. Gisler said the victims were likely of multiple nationalities, reflecting the international nature of the resort.
Cause under investigation
Authorities said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. A police spokesperson initially referred to a possible explosion of unknown origin, but prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud later said the incident was being treated as a fire and not as an attack.
“Our priority is to identify the victims and ensure their bodies can be returned to their families,” Pilloud told reporters. A formal investigation is under way.
Swiss media outlets ‘Le Nouvelliste’ and Rhône FM reported that around 40 people had died, citing preliminary information.
Emergency response ongoing
The Valais cantonal government has declared a state of emergency to allow for the rapid mobilisation of resources. Cantonal and municipal police, regional fire services and air rescue units were deployed immediately after the alarm was raised.
Authorities said around 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances were involved in the response. The operation was still ongoing on Thursday, with the area around the bar completely sealed off. A temporary no-fly zone has been imposed over Crans-Montana, located in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
A telephone helpline for relatives and those seeking information has been set up at +41 84 811 21 17.
Photo by Denise Hastert, Wikimedia commons.