A fire swept through a packed New Year’s party at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday. “Several tens of people” are feared dead in what also injured some 100 people seriously, reports The Associated Press.
“The number of victims is as yet unconfirmed, and it will take time to identify them, according to Frédéric Gisler, commander of the Valais Canton Police, told a news conference, as reported by The Associated Press.”
The Attorney General of Valais Canton, Beatrice Pilloud, described it was too soon to tell what may have caused the fire, and it was not possible for investigators to access the crash site yet, reported the Associated Press. There was no evidence of an attack.
Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the site to take victims out of the burning structure, including those from other nations, as quoted by the Associated Press. Descriptions by witnesses quoted by the Associated Press included the rapid spread of flames that began when the fire broke out near the wooden ceiling, and a surge of people attempting to leave the club in the basement via the narrow stairwell and exit.
“The number of wounded has quickly exceeded the capacity of local hospitals,” Mathias Reynard, head of the regional government of Valais, told The Associated Press. Authorities warned citizens to exercise care in the coming days to prevent further emergencies, The Associated Press reported.
The president of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, has expressed condolences through a social media post and opted to postpone a New Year speech in honor of the families of the affected individuals. He stated : What was a moment of celebration became a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, hitting the whole country and the world. The Federal Council has taken note of this situation with deep distress. The Federal Council stands by the victims and the injured and their families and conveys its heartfelt condolences.
