Tragic Fire in Swiss Ski Resort Claims Lives During New Year Celebration

Devastating Incident in Crans-Montana

A catastrophic fire erupted at a bar in Crans-Montana, a popular ski resort in Switzerland, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 individuals and leaving around 115 others injured during New Year festivities, as reported by various news sources.

Frederic Gisler, the police commander for the Wallis canton, indicated that many of the injured are in critical condition.

The blaze ignited around 1:30 AM at Le Constellation, a bar with a capacity exceeding 300 patrons.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire, which they do not suspect to be an act of terrorism.

Initial reports suggested an explosion triggered the fire; however, Beatrice Pilloud, the chief prosecutor of Wallis, clarified that the fire itself caused the explosion.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin referred to the event as “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever known.”

Officials noted that determining the exact number of casualties may take time due to the condition of the bodies, with forensic experts utilizing dental and DNA records for identification.

Gisler mentioned that due to the resort's international appeal, it is likely that foreign nationals are among the deceased.

The injured have been transported to medical facilities throughout Switzerland and neighboring countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron reached out to his Swiss counterpart to offer support, noting that three injured individuals were admitted to hospitals in France.

The French foreign ministry reported that nine French citizens were among the injured, with eight others unaccounted for.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that 15 Italian nationals were injured, with a similar number still missing.