Dozens dead in explosion at mountain bar in Switzerland

A fire in a bar at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left dozens dead and around 100 injured. The fire was extremely violent and started after several explosions, according to police, who have ruled out terrorism. At the time of the fire in the bar Le Constellation A New Year's Eve party was being held. Identifying the victims will be complicated by the poor condition of the bodies, and it is believed that tourists of various nationalities are among them. At the moment, there is no record of Spanish victims in the fire, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which spoke to EFE. Government sources have reported that all hospitals in the area are overwhelmed, with intensive care units "full." The fire mobilized firefighters from across the country, and, according to a senior police official at a press conference, everyone involved in the rescue operations was "deeply affected." The area was sealed off, and a no-fly zone was imposed over the town. "The priority now is forensic medicine to help us identify the people who have died," said the Attorney General of the Valais region, Beatrice Pilloud. Swiss authorities have released the phone number +41 84 811 21 17 to provide information to their families.

Possible causes

Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, police have ruled out arson and are investigating the possibility of an accident involving fireworks. An explicit ban on the use of fireworks and bonfires was in effect in the area during New Year's celebrations due to the drought affecting this part of the Alps, where snowfall has been below average for this time of year. The fire started at 1:30 a.m. and was under control by early morning.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, lamented that what should have been a moment of celebration "turned into a nightmare." Police commander Frédéric Gisler spoke of "several dozen fatalities" and added that he was "devastated" by the tragedy.

Crans-Montana is a luxury resort located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, approximately two hours from the Swiss capital of Bern. It is one of the most prominent competition venues on the Alpine Ski World Cup circuit and will, in fact, host the 2027 World Championships. In four weeks, the resort will bring together the world's best downhill specialists for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. It is also a top venue for international golf. The Crans-sur-Sierre club hosts the European Masters every August.