Swiss bar fire fire kills dozens in Crans-Montana, terror angle ruled out: What we know so far
New Year celebrations at a luxury Swiss ski resort turned deadly after a massive fire swept through a crowded bar in Crans-Montana early Thursday. Police said several dozen people are presumed dead and nearly 100 injured after the blaze broke out during a concert at the venue. Authorities have ruled out terror links, while investigations focus on a possible accident involving pyrotechnics.
New Delhi: New Year celebrations in the Swiss Alps ended in tragedy after a massive fire tore through a packed bar at a luxury ski resort early Thursday. It killed several dozen people and injured nearly 100 others, according to police.
The blaze broke out during celebrations at a bar in Crans-Montana, a globally known alpine destination that was crowded with revellers welcoming the New Year.
Authorities said rescue operations and investigations are ongoing, while hospitals in the region are treating a large number of burn victims.
What happened at Le Constellation
The fire erupted around 1:30 am at Le Constellation, where a New Year concert was underway. Police confirmed that more than 100 people were inside the venue when the blaze started.
"We are seeing many injured and many dead,” police spokesperson Gaëtan Lathion said, adding that the situation remained fluid as emergency teams continued search and rescue efforts.
Swiss media reports suggested the fire may have been triggered by pyrotechnics used during the concert, although officials said the exact cause is still under investigation.
Death toll and injuries
According to Frédéric Gisler, police commander of the Wallis canton, "several dozen people are presumed to have died,” while around 100 others sustained injuries, many of them severe burns.
Local hospitals were placed on emergency footing as victims were rushed in throughout the night, Swiss media reported.
Area sealed, airspace restricted
Police said the affected area was completely sealed off to the public following the incident. A temporary no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana to allow emergency helicopters and rescue teams to operate without disruption, according to AFP.
Authorities stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages.
Terror angle ruled out
Officials ruled out terrorism as a cause of the fire. "At this stage, we are treating this as a fire incident and not as an attack,” prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
Crans-Montana is an internationally popular ski destination that attracts large numbers of foreign tourists during the winter holiday season, making the scale of the tragedy particularly severe.