GENEVA: At least 40 individuals are believed to have lost their lives, with roughly 100 others injured, following a devastating fire at a bustling bar in the upscale Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana.
Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and rescue teams, responded swiftly after the blaze erupted in the early hours of New Year’s Day at the popular Le Constellation bar, one of Europe’s premier ski destinations.
Witnesses, including a tourist from New York, captured footage of fierce orange flames engulfing the venue, describing scenes of panic as people fled in terror amid the darkness. Officials are still probing the cause of the fire, which started around 1:30 am (0030 GMT). They confirmed that initial investigations suggest it was not the result of an attack.
Frederic Gisler, police chief of the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, stated, “Several dozen lives are presumed lost,” adding that around 100 people sustained injuries, many of them serious. “All the injured are currently receiving medical care,” he emphasized.
Hospitals in the region are overwhelmed and have declared a state of emergency, with patients being transferred to various medical centers across Switzerland. The Le Constellation venue can accommodate up to 300 guests, with an additional 40 on its terrace, according to the official Crans-Montana website.
Earlier reports indicated that approximately 100 people had gathered at the bar to celebrate the New Year. Even hours after the incident, emergency vehicles remained parked outside, and shattered windows could be observed. Local media reported lingering odors of smoke and burning in the aftermath of the tragedy.
