Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
“Several dozen” people are believed to have died and about 100 injured in a blaze at a bar in an upmarket Swiss ski resort, with an investigation under way to determine the cause, local police have said.
Police and firefighters rushed to the scene at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a town in Switzerland’s Valais region, after a fire broke out during new year celebrations.
“We have identified around 100 people injured,” Frédéric Gisler, the police commander for Valais, told a press conference on Thursday. “Sadly, several dozen people are presumed to have died.”
Gisler said that it was “too early to give a more accurate figure” on the death toll as medical services were working to formally identify victims and notify their families, but he added that victims were expected to be from around the world.
While the cause of the incident remained unclear, local officials ruled out an attack or the use of an explosive device.
Valais’ prosecutor-general Beatrice Pilloud said: “At no time was there a question of any attack.”
Two French citizens were among the injured, a French government spokesperson said.
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said that his government was “following minute by minute the evolution of the situation” and Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland was en route to Crans-Montana to provide assistance.
Emergency services were alerted at about 1.30am after smoke was detected inside the bar, Gisler said, and arrived to a “scene of chaos”.
According to the authorities, about 40 ambulances, 10 helicopters and 150 health responders were mobilised. Many victims suffered severe burns.
Crans-Montana is a well-known luxury resort in south-west Switzerland, about 180km east of Geneva, that attracts 3mn visitors a year, according to its official tourism website. Renowned for its upmarket restaurants, shops and golf courses as well as winter sports, it regularly hosts international events such as Ski World Cup races.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin wrote on X that “what was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night” that was “felt across the country and beyond”. He added that Switzerland’s Federal Council had learnt the news with “deep dismay”.
Authorities have urged the public to show restraint. “Do not add any more to this drama,” officials said, warning that hospital resources were already under severe strain.
Additional contributions from Gloria Li in Hong Kong, Adrienne Klasa in Paris and Amy Kazmin in Rome