40 feared dead in New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland

Around 40 people are feared dead after a massive fire ripped through a bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to Italy’s foreign ministry, which cited Swiss police.

In a statement, the ministry said the victims could not be immediately identified because of the severity of their burns. Swiss authorities have not officially confirmed the death toll, saying it was too early to provide precise figures.

Swiss police commander Frédéric Gisler told a press briefing on Thursday that the victims were likely of different nationalities. Authorities said more than 100 people were injured in the blaze.

The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. local time at Le Constellation, a popular bar frequented by tourists. Police said more than 100 people were inside the venue when the incident occurred as revellers rang in the new year.

Officials clarified that the incident was not a terrorist attack. The head of regional security said “several dozen” people were presumed dead, while investigations into the cause of the fire were still at an early stage.

A police spokesperson said the majority of casualties were believed to be tourists visiting Crans-Montana for the holiday season. “We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists,” he said.

Swiss media quoted medical personnel at the scene as suggesting the death toll could run into the dozens. Regional daily Le Nouvelliste reported, citing sources, that about 40 people may have been killed and more than 100 injured.

Emergency services, including police, fire crews and several helicopters, were deployed to the scene. Authorities sealed off the area and imposed a temporary no-fly zone over Crans-Montana. A hotline was set up for relatives seeking information.

While some local media suggested the fire may have been triggered by pyrotechnics used during a concert, police said the cause remained unknown.

Crans-Montana is a high-end ski resort in Switzerland’s Valais region, about two hours from Bern, and is a popular destination for international tourists.