Some 40 people have died and at least 115 have been seriously injured after a tragic fire broke out in a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said on Thursday, January 1.
The tragic incident occurred at the Le Constellation bar, a popular nightlife venue in the town of Valais. Police called it one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland in recent decades.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin said the country was “shocked” after the disaster and that many of the victims were young.
Previously, authorities stated that the exact number of victims had not been confirmed. However, police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed that around 40 people were killed and 115 injured, many of them seriously injured.
The injured were transported to hospitals across the country, including medical facilities in Sion, Lausanne, Bern, Geneva and Zurich.
Neighboring countries, including France, Germany and Italy, have offered to take in burn victims requiring specialized treatment.
The victims are said to have multiple nationalities, confirming that there were also foreigners at the ski resort.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud said several hypotheses are being examined, although initial conclusions suggest the incident was accidental and not deliberate.
