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Authorities report that approximately 40 individuals have died and 115 have sustained injuries following a fire at a ski resort in southwestern Switzerland.
The blaze, which occurred around 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) on New Year’s Day at a bar named Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, likely involved multiple nationalities, according to officials.
The incident is being treated as a fire, with the region’s chief prosecutor stating that there is “no question” of an attack.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin has described the event as “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced.”
A helpline has been established for concerned families: +41 848 112 117
Here’s the latest information available.
During a press conference held Thursday afternoon, police confirmed the death toll to be around 40, with 115 individuals injured, many with severe wounds.
The injured have been distributed to hospitals across Switzerland. A specialized burns unit in Milan, Italy, has also been made available.
The director of Lausanne University Hospital informed a Swiss newspaper that her center has received 22 patients thus far, primarily aged 16-26.
Efforts are underway to identify the victims and expedite the return of remains to their families, according to the region’s chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud.
However, the Italian ambassador to Switzerland cautioned that identification of the deceased could take several weeks. The Italian Foreign Minister previously noted that severe burns would complicate the identification process.
Individuals from various countries are believed to be affected. The Italian Foreign Ministry has informed the BBC that 16 Italian nationals are currently unaccounted for, while 12 to 15 others are receiving hospital treatment.
Three Italian nationals—a woman in her twenties and two boys under the age of 16—are being transferred to Niguarda hospital’s major burns unit in Milan, as stated by local councillor Guido Bertolaso.
The French foreign ministry reported that eight of its citizens are missing and that it could not exclude the possibility that French nationals are among the deceased.
Earlier reports from French media indicated that at least two of the injured are French nationals.
French football club FC Metz confirmed that one of its youth players sustained “severe burns” in the fire. Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, has been airlifted to a hospital in Germany for treatment, according to a club statement.
President Emmanuel Macron stated that France is “ready to provide any assistance” and that injured individuals are welcome to receive treatment in French hospitals.
The EU is also providing medical assistance to the victims, as confirmed by President Ursula von der Leyen.
The UK embassy in Switzerland has stated that it is monitoring the situation but has not been approached for assistance.
The Foreign Office stated that consular staff are on standby to support any affected British nationals.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined, but authorities indicate that initial evidence does not point to an attack.
Addressing earlier reports of an explosion, regional security official Stéphane Ganzer clarified, “It is not the detonation of an explosive device that causes the fire, it is the fire which, as it develops, causes an explosion and a general conflagration of the premises.”
Two French nationals who were reportedly in the bar at the time recounted seeing a waitress placing a birthday candle on a champagne bottle.
“One of the candles was held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire. In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood,” Emma and Albane told French media outlet BFMTV.
They described the evacuation as “very difficult” due to a “narrow” escape route and “even narrower” stairs leading outside.
During a Thursday news conference, Ms. Pilloud also noted that the staircases appeared narrow, but investigations will assess whether they met regulatory requirements.
Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler stated that smoke was initially detected emanating from the bar around 01:30 local time, prompting the call to emergency services.
Mr. Gisler confirmed that the first police officers arrived quickly on the scene, followed by a major deployment of rescue teams.
Le Constellation is a well-established bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, having been in operation for many years.
While the resort is generally upscale, Le Constellation was not particularly lavish, according to BBC’s Silvia Costeloe reporting from the resort.
The venue features an upstairs area with TV screens for viewing football matches and a large downstairs bar, where patrons likely engaged in drinking and dancing.
It has a capacity of up to 300 people and includes a small terrace, although the number of people present at the time of the fire is unknown.
The Christmas and New Year holidays represent peak season for Alpine ski resorts, and the bar was likely filled with Swiss nationals and tourists celebrating the arrival of 2026.
A promotional video for Le Constellation bar, posted on YouTube in May 2024, depicted women in motorcycle helmets walking through the bar carrying sparklers in alcohol bottles above their heads.
The French caption read: “The Constellation Crans-Montana welcomes you every day from 9am to 2am, 365 days a year without interruption.”
If it is safe to do so, you can also get in touch by following this link
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