Web Desk (MNN); Around 40 people were killed and nearly 100 others injured, most of them critically, after a powerful explosion followed by a fire ripped through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana in Switzerland, officials said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at around 6:30am PKT at a bar named “Le Constellation” in southwestern Switzerland. Authorities said the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but initial assessments suggest it was accidental rather than a deliberate attack.
Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud told a press conference that authorities were treating the incident as a fire-related accident and not considering terrorism at this stage. She confirmed that a full investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause.
Stephane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton, said that some of the victims were foreign nationals. Canton police chief Frederic Gisler said a helpline had been established for families seeking information about their loved ones.
“We are all deeply shaken by what happened overnight in Crans,” Gisler said, adding that around 100 people were injured, most of them seriously. The injured were transported to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich.
While Swiss authorities did not officially confirm the death toll, Italy’s foreign ministry cited information from Swiss police indicating that about 40 people had lost their lives. The affected area was completely sealed off, with a no-fly zone imposed over the resort. Emergency services deployed 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to handle the crisis.
Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin expressed condolences, saying that what was meant to be a moment of celebration had turned into nationwide mourning on the first day of the new year.
Prosecutor Pilloud said forensic teams were working intensively to identify victims so that the bodies could be handed over to families as quickly as possible.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested that fireworks may have triggered the blaze, saying it appeared to be an accidental fire caused by an explosion during New Year celebrations.
English Headline: President Zardari, PM Shehbaz Condole Swiss Tragedy
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered condolences to the families of those killed, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. In a post on X, he said he was heartbroken by the devastating explosion and fire in Crans-Montana on New Year’s night.
