A New Year’s celebration in a popular Swiss Alps resort town has ended in tragedy after a devastating fire tore through a bar, leaving dozens of people feared dead and around 100 others injured, multiple sources have reported.
Emergency services were called to Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland’s Valais canton, after a blaze broke out during New Year festivities. Police say “several tens of people” are believed to have lost their lives, though an exact figure has not yet been confirmed, BBC News details
Speaking at a press conference, Valais Cantonal Police commander Frédéric Gisler said efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families – a process he stressed would take time.
“The community is devastated,” Gisler said, via ITV News. “For now, it is premature to give a more precise number.”
Around 100 people were injured in the fire, many of them seriously. The scale of the incident was so severe that the intensive care unit and operating theatres at the regional hospital quickly reached capacity, according to regional councillor Mathias Rénard.
“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together,” Rénard said. “Instead, it turned into a nightmare.”
Helicopters and ambulances were dispatched to the scene to transport the injured, with officials confirming that some of the victims were visitors from outside Switzerland. The resort area is particularly busy at this time of year, with tourists in town for skiing holidays.
Valais canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said it was far too early to determine what caused the fire. Investigators have not yet been able to fully access the wreckage due to safety concerns.
“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud confirmed, addressing speculation as details continue to emerge.
Local authorities have urged residents and visitors to exercise caution in the coming days, noting that emergency medical resources are already under significant strain following the incident, The Guardian writes.
Crans-Montana sits in the heart of the Swiss Alps, around 40 kilometres north of the Matterhorn and roughly 130 kilometres south of Zurich. The resort town is home to about 10,000 residents and sits at an altitude of nearly 3,000 metres at its highest point.
The municipality itself is relatively new, having been formed in 2017 through the merger of several towns. While best known as a luxury ski destination, local officials have recently spoken about efforts to diversify beyond tourism.
For now, the focus remains on supporting victims, their families, and a community coming to terms with a devastating start to the New Year.