AN explosion triggered by a fire during a crowded New Year’s Eve celebration at a ski resort in Switzerland has left an estimated 40 people dead and more than 100 injured, Swiss authorities said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) at Le Constellation, a popular bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland.
The venue was packed with revelers when a fire broke out and led to a powerful explosion, turning the festivities into a large-scale tragedy.
Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said authorities are treating the incident as an accident and not as a deliberate act.
Speaking at a press conference, she stressed that there is currently no indication of an attack, although a full investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.
Several of the victims are believed to be foreign nationals, according to Stephane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton.
Cantonal police chief Frederic Gisler said a helpline has been set up to assist families seeking information about their loved ones.
“We are all deeply shaken by what happened overnight in Crans,” Gisler told reporters. He added that around 100 people suffered injuries, many of them serious, while “tens of people are presumed dead.”
The wounded were transported to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich.
Italy’s foreign ministry, citing information from Swiss police, said the death toll was approximately 40, though Swiss authorities have so far declined to confirm an exact figure.
Emergency officials earlier reported that many victims were being treated for severe burns. The area was immediately sealed off, and a no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana as part of the rescue and investigation efforts. Authorities deployed 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to respond to the disaster.
Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin expressed condolences on social media, saying that what was meant to be a joyful celebration on the first day of the year had turned into a moment of national mourning that resonated far beyond Switzerland’s borders.
Prosecutor Pilloud said significant forensic resources are being mobilized to identify the victims as quickly as possible and return their remains to their families.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested that fireworks may have sparked the blaze, saying initial reports point to an accidental fire or explosion possibly caused by a firecracker during New Year’s celebrations.