Around 40 killed, over 100 injured in Swiss Alps New Year’s bar fire

• Fire at Crans-Montana bar kills about 40, injures 115, many severely.
• Investigation ongoing, authorities rule out terrorism, victims largely young people.

About 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured, many seriously, in a fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps during New Year’s celebrations on Thursday, according to The New York Times.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin called it “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced”.

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The blaze broke out in the early morning hours at Le Constellation, a bar in Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais. Officials said they are investigating the fire and a subsequent explosion, but ruled out any terrorist involvement.

“We have no suspects,” said Beatrice Pilloud, the prosecutor general for the region. “An investigation has been launched, not against anyone, but to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic fire.”

Young crowd among victims

Many of the victims were young people gathered to welcome the New Year. President Parmelin, who postponed a scheduled New Year’s address to visit the scene, said, “This tragedy occurred in a place that is naturally associated with life and joy.”

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Authorities are working to identify the dead and return remains to families. Witnesses are being interviewed, and cellphones left at the scene will be analyzed, a prosecutor said.

Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said at a news conference Thursday evening, “As I speak, we are counting around 40 people dead and approximately 115 injured, most of them seriously.”

Emergency response

Smoke was first reported around 1:30 AM, and emergency services responded with 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances. Local hospitals quickly reached capacity, with some severely burned victims flown by specialized jets to Zurich and Lausanne for treatment. Claire Charmet, head of a Lausanne hospital, said most survivors were between 16 and 26 years old.

Authorities imposed a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana to facilitate air rescue operations. Local official Mathias Reynard urged residents to avoid clogging emergency services with avoidable situations.

Location and venue

Crans-Montana is an upscale ski resort with roughly 10,000 residents and 2,800 hotel beds, attracting wealthy and international visitors. Le Constellation, the site of the fire, is a low-key bar popular with younger crowds and tourists. Its downstairs area often serves as a dance floor, and the bar regularly hosts live DJs and broadcasts international sports events.

Authorities have not released the identities of the victims, but foreign nationals were likely among them given the town’s popularity with international visitors.