Fatalities reported after fire during NYE celebrations
Updated ,first published
Berlin: Dozens of people were killed and about 100 others were feared injured when a fire broke out at a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the luxury Crans-Montana ski resort in southwestern Switzerland, Swiss police said on Thursday.
In a statement made by police, it was stated that the tragedy occurred at around 01.30am (11.30am AEDT) at Le Constellation, a bar in the luxury ski resort in the Valais region, which is popular with tourists.
“There were more than 100 people in the building and we see many injured and many dead,” police spokesman Gaëtan Lathion said.
“This evening was supposed to be a time of celebration, but it turned into a nightmare,” Valais local government leader Mathias Reynard said at a press conference on New Year’s Day.
“We express our support to all those injured, some seriously. We also appreciate the work of the emergency services.”
Swiss media were reporting that an accident was being considered as a possible cause.
According to information from RTS, no foul play was suspected. Valais radio station Rhône FM said fireworks on New Year’s Eve were being investigated as a possible cause.
Swiss newspaper TdG quoted an eyewitness from inside the bar as saying that fireworks were thrown over the bottles in the nightclub, causing a fire in the ceiling.
He said the fire spread very quickly and caused panic and stampede as the revelers tried to exit the building.
A local doctor told RTS (Swiss radio and television) that most of the injured had serious burns.
Air Glaciers, assisted by Rega (Swiss Air Rescue) and an Italian helicopter, were transporting the injured to various hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland.
A reception center and helpline have been set up for affected families, Lathion said.
“We are still at the beginning of our research, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with a lot of tourists,” Lathion said.
A press conference has been planned by the police in Crans-Montana for 10am (8pm AEDT).
Hospitals in western Switzerland are reportedly under severe stress due to the tragedy.
The community is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, just 40 kilometers north of the Matterhorn and 170 kilometers east of Geneva.
Crans-Montana is a popular skiing and hiking area and regularly hosts World Cup races. The highest point of Crans-Montana, with a population of 10,000, is located at an altitude of approximately 3000 meters.
The tragedy comes at a busy time for Swiss hospitals, as seasonal flu combined with winter holiday accidents puts pressure on the system.
In the local press, in solidarity with the victims, a call was made to the public on New Year’s Eve to avoid taking risks and not to put more burden on hospitals.
AP, Reuters
