Femi Ashekun/
At least 40 people have died and about 115 others were injured after a fire tore through a bar during New Year celebrations at a luxury Swiss ski resort, authorities have said.
Emergency services were called to Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana, in Switzerland’s Valais region, shortly after 1.30am on Thursday, after smoke was detected inside the venue.
Police and firefighters arrived to find a fast spreading blaze.
“We have identified around 40 fatalities and 115 injured, many of them seriously,” Frédéric Gisler, Valais police commander, told a press conference.
He added that some of the victims were believed to be foreign nationals.
Officials said the cause of the fire remained unknown but ruled out an attack or the use of an explosive device.
Valais prosecutor general, Beatrice Pilloud, said several possible causes were being examined and investigators were reviewing witness accounts and mobile phone footage.
She said a widespread fire broke out first and later triggered an explosion.
Some witnesses told French broadcaster, BFMTV, that pyrotechnic candles may have sparked the blaze, but Pilloud said it was too early to draw conclusions.
“At this stage, we have no suspects,” she said.
Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said about 16 Italians were reported missing, while between 12 and 15 were receiving hospital treatment.
France’s foreign ministry said nine French citizens were injured and eight others were missing, adding that three of the injured had been transferred to hospitals in Lyon and Paris.
Swiss President, Guy Parmelin, described the incident as “one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced”.
He cancelled his New Year address, said flags would fly at half mast in the capital for five days and added that “hope must always prevail”.
By Thursday evening, mourners had placed candles near the bar as a memorial.
Authorities said 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters and around 150 medical staff were deployed.
Many of the injured suffered severe burns, with some transferred to hospitals in neighbouring countries as Swiss facilities came under heavy pressure.
Stéphane Ganzer, Valais head of security, declined to confirm whether minors were present, saying only that it had been “a young, festive crowd”.
Officials have not yet established how many people were inside the bar when the fire started.
Crans Montana is a prominent resort in south western Switzerland, around 180 kilometres east of Geneva, and attracts about three million visitors a year.
It is known for luxury dining, shopping and winter sports, and is scheduled to host Ski World Cup races later this month.
Other Alpine resorts, including Verbier, cancelled New Year fireworks in solidarity.
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