Crans-Montana (TDI): Several dozen people are feared dead and around 100 injured after a fire tore through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana, authorities said Thursday.
Frederic Gisler, police commander in the Wallis canton, told reporters that “several dozen people are presumed to have died” in the incident.
The fire broke out at Le Constellation, a bar that can hold 300 people inside and an additional 40 on its terrace. Around 100 people were reportedly inside celebrating the New Year at the time.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with bright orange flames engulfing the building and people running and screaming. Ambulances, firefighters, and rescue teams rushed to the scene, but the operation remained ongoing hours later. Broken windows and the smell of smoke lingered, according to local media.
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Swiss media reported the death toll could be as high as 40, with around 100 people injured. Authorities have not confirmed the exact numbers.
Initial reports suggested that pyrotechnics may have sparked the blaze during a concert, but police said the cause remains unknown. A police spokesperson described an “explosion of unknown origin” around 1:30 a.m. local time.
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The area has been closed to the public, and a temporary no-fly zone over Crans-Montana has been imposed. Neighbors reported hearing helicopters and sirens throughout the night, as emergency services responded to the crisis.
Authorities continue rescue operations, and the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
