Fatalities reported after fire during NYE celebrations
Berlin: Several people were killed and others injured after a fire broke out during New Year’s celebrations at a bar in the 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.
Initial unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as 10 people may have died in the fire, which locals say was caused by the explosion.
Screenshot from an unverified video on social media, apparently taken from the road outside Le Constellation.Credit: X
Stating that the area was completely closed and a no-fly zone was declared over Crans-Montana, the police added that the cause of the fire remained unclear.
“There were more than 100 people in the building and we see many injured and many dead,” police spokesman Gaëtan Lathion said.
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.
