A devastating fire at a popular bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana claimed the lives of around 40 people and left 115 others injured during New Year festivities, Swiss authorities confirmed on Thursday. The blaze broke out inside Le Constellation bar, a well-known hotspot among tourists visiting the luxury ski destination.
Frederic Gisler, police commander for the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, said the majority of the injured were in serious condition. He added that officials are working to identify the victims and notify their families. Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the tragedy “one of the worst” the nation has ever faced.
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Authorities stressed that the incident was a fire outbreak and not linked to terrorism. The flames reportedly erupted around 1:30 am (0030 GMT) as crowds gathered to welcome the New Year.
“This evening should have been a moment of joy and togetherness, but it became a nightmare,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais regional government. He revealed that the influx of victims quickly overwhelmed the local hospital’s ICU and operating theaters.
Police said more than 100 people were inside the venue at the time, many of them tourists visiting Crans-Montana for the holiday season. Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
