About 40 people killed in Swiss ski resort fire, police say

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Local police said that about 40 people were killed and 115 others were injured in a fire that broke out in a bar in an upscale ski resort in Switzerland, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a town in the Valais region of Switzerland, after a fire broke out during New Year’s celebrations.

“We have identified about 40 people who died and 115 injured, many of them seriously,” Frédéric Geisler, Valais police chief, said at a news conference Thursday afternoon, adding that some of the victims were expected to be foreign nationals.

While the cause of the incident remained unclear, local officials ruled out an attack or the use of an explosive device.

Valais prosecutor Beatrice Bellot said “several” other hypotheses about the cause were being examined, and investigators were reviewing witness testimonies and mobile phone footage. She said there was a large-scale conflagration – a large fire that spreads quickly – which then led to an explosion.

Witnesses told French broadcaster BFMTV that fiery candles may have started the fire, although Billaud said it was too early to draw conclusions. She added: “So far we do not have any suspects.”

Speaking on Italian channel Sky TG24, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that about 16 Italians were reported missing, and that between 12 and 15 people were in hospital after the fire, although he stressed that the numbers were still in flux.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that nine French citizens were among the injured, and eight others were considered missing, adding that three wounded were transferred to French hospitals in Lyon and Paris.

Swiss president Guy Parmelin said the fire was “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever witnessed.”

He canceled his scheduled New Year’s message on Thursday, but said that “hope must always triumph.” Parmelan added that flags will be flown at half-mast in the Swiss capital during the next five days.

Emergency services were alerted at around 1.30am after smoke was discovered inside the pub in the center of the Crans-Montana resort.

According to the authorities, about 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters and about 150 medical staff have been mobilized. Many victims suffered severe burns and some were transferred to hospitals in neighboring countries, as Swiss hospitals were under great pressure.

Stefan Ganzer, Valais’ head of security, declined to confirm whether there were minors in the bar, saying it was a “young, partying crowd”. Authorities have not yet determined how many people were inside the scene when the fire broke out.

Crans-Montana is a well-known luxury resort in southwestern Switzerland, about 180 kilometers east of Geneva, and attracts three million visitors annually, according to its official tourism website. It is known for its upscale restaurants, shops, golf courses as well as winter sports, and regularly hosts international events. World Cup ski races are scheduled to be held in the city later this month.

Other Alpine resorts, including Verbier, canceled New Year’s fireworks displays in solidarity.

Additional contributions from Gloria Li in Hong Kong, Adrien Klassa in Paris, and Aimee Kazmin in Rome