King Charles has expressed his sorrow after the devastating fire at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps that killed dozens of people during New Year’s celebrations.
In an official statement shared through Buckingham Palace in the early hours of January 2, the King shared his and Queen Camilla’s condolences after a fire ripped through a packed bar in Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day, according to official statements.
“My wife and I were shocked and very saddened to learn of last night’s devastating fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland,” Her Majesty said. “It is absolutely heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families has turned into a nightmarish tragedy.”
The fire occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time at the Le Constellation bar, just as the crowd was celebrating the New Year. Swiss outlet Blick reported that the fire may have started when fireworks were launched inside during a concert, although authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show a ceiling catching fire after a “waiter held a sparkler in a champagne bottle.”
Police believe about 40 people were killed and approximately 100 others were injured, many of them seriously. The victims have not yet been formally identified due to the severity of their burns and authorities confirmed that some of the dead were foreign nationals. Emergency services deployed 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to the scene.
King Charles praised those responding to the disaster, saying: “While we offer our admiration for the heroic first responders and selfless emergency services, we wanted, above all, to convey our deepest sympathy to all those who have been so terribly affected by this horrific disaster.”
