Swiss authorities say dozens of people are feared dead after a fire tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, leaving more than 100 others injured.
The blaze broke out around 1:30 am local time inside a bar called Le Constellation, according to Swiss police. Emergency services were quickly dispatched as flames engulfed the venue, which was packed with revelers welcoming the new year, reports The Guardian.
Police said they believe roughly 40 people may have been killed, citing information from the Italian Foreign Ministry. Many of the victims are thought to be foreign tourists. Due to the severity of the burns, officials warned that identifying the dead could take weeks.
Valais Canton police commander Frederic Gisler told reporters that “several tens of people” were presumed dead. He said efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify families but cautioned that it is too early to provide a precise death toll.
Hospitals in the region were quickly overwhelmed. Valais hospital’s intensive care unit reached full capacity, forcing authorities to transfer some patients elsewhere. Most of the injured were reported to be in serious condition, according to Mathias Reynard, head of the cantonal government.
Emergency officials mobilized a large response, deploying 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to the scene. The area around the bar was cordoned off, and forensic tents were erected behind white screens outside the venue.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the fire spread. Dominic Dubois, who was nearby at the time, told Reuters, “You could see the orange. The orange, yellow, red,” adding that there were “many, many gory scenes.” He said people outside the bar helped pull victims to safety, while nearby businesses opened their doors to provide shelter.
Dubois said one of the main challenges for survivors was the sudden temperature shock from intense heat inside the bar to freezing conditions outdoors. “One of the priorities was to get everyone warm,” he said.
Authorities said more than 100 people were inside the bar at the time of the fire. A no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana as emergency operations continued.
The blaze broke out around 1:30 am local time inside a bar called Le Constellation, according to Swiss police. Emergency services were quickly dispatched as flames engulfed the venue, which was packed with revelers welcoming the new year, reports The Guardian.
Police said they believe roughly 40 people may have been killed, citing information from the Italian Foreign Ministry. Many of the victims are thought to be foreign tourists. Due to the severity of the burns, officials warned that identifying the dead could take weeks.
Valais Canton police commander Frederic Gisler told reporters that “several tens of people” were presumed dead. He said efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify families but cautioned that it is too early to provide a precise death toll.
Hospitals in the region were quickly overwhelmed. Valais hospital’s intensive care unit reached full capacity, forcing authorities to transfer some patients elsewhere. Most of the injured were reported to be in serious condition, according to Mathias Reynard, head of the cantonal government.
Emergency officials mobilized a large response, deploying 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to the scene. The area around the bar was cordoned off, and forensic tents were erected behind white screens outside the venue.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the fire spread. Dominic Dubois, who was nearby at the time, told Reuters, “You could see the orange. The orange, yellow, red,” adding that there were “many, many gory scenes.” He said people outside the bar helped pull victims to safety, while nearby businesses opened their doors to provide shelter.
Dubois said one of the main challenges for survivors was the sudden temperature shock from intense heat inside the bar to freezing conditions outdoors. “One of the priorities was to get everyone warm,” he said.
Authorities said more than 100 people were inside the bar at the time of the fire. A no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana as emergency operations continued.
