Switzerland: Expectations of Dozens Dead in Ski Resort Fire

SadaNews - Swiss police have estimated today, Thursday, that dozens of people may have died in the fire that broke out during New Year's celebrations inside the Crans Montana ski resort in the Alps.

Preliminary data indicates that the death toll could exceed 40, while the number of injuries is estimated at around 100, most of whom have serious injuries.

Frédéric Gysler, the police chief of the Valais canton in southwestern Switzerland, told reporters: "It is believed that dozens of people have perished."

Police, firefighting teams, and rescue crews rushed to the resort, which is one of Europe's premier skiing destinations, following the outbreak of the fire inside a crowded bar filled with tourists.

The Valais canton police stated in a release that a "cause unknown fire" broke out in a bar that usually attracts large numbers of visitors.

A police spokesperson explained that the fire occurred in the "La Constellation" bar, which has a capacity of about 300 people, plus 40 people on the terrace.

The spokesperson noted that around 100 people were inside the bar at the time of the fire, celebrating New Year's Eve.

A tourist from New York shared footage showing orange flames sweeping through the area, stating he saw people running and screaming in the dark.

The police report indicated that "a number of people have died and others have been injured," describing the incident as "serious," and noting that "a large-scale emergency response is underway."

It added that "a large force of police, firefighting, and ambulance personnel immediately headed to the scene, and the operation is still ongoing."

Hours after the fire broke out, ambulances remained present around the bar, with broken windows, and local media reported a "smell of smoke still lingering in the air."

The Swiss newspaper "Blick" quoted a doctor at the scene saying that the death toll could be "in the dozens," while the daily "Le Nouvelliste" reported that its sources talked about a "heavy toll" that could reach around 40 dead and 100 injured.

Local media indicated that the fire may have started due to the use of pyrotechnics during a musical performance, but police confirmed that the cause is "not known yet."

Gaitain Latton, a spokesperson for the Valais canton police, had previously reported an "explosion of unknown origin" around 1:30 AM.

The police announced the complete closure of the area to the public and imposed a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana.

One local resident commented: "The party was at its peak, the music was playing loud, and champagne was flowing, then suddenly everything changed."

He added: "People started gathering in the street, and alarms could be heard in the distance. Everyone was stunned and silent."

Another person told a local newspaper: "We heard helicopters all night. At first, we didn’t understand what was happening due to the fireworks, then we saw the smoke. It’s terrible, a lot of young people frequent this bar."