Fire at Crans Montana resort in Switzerland claims dozens of lives
On the night of 1 January, a large-scale fire broke out at the luxury ski resort of Crans Montana in Switzerland during the New Year's Eve celebrations. The fire broke out at around 01:30 in the Le Constellation lounge bar, where there were about 100 visitors at the time. It is reported by The Public with reference to Reuters.
According to the Valais cantonal police, the fire spread extremely quickly and was accompanied by a powerful flash, which witnesses initially perceived as an explosion. Law enforcement officials confirmed the deaths of dozens of people, and about 100 people were injured, most of whom are in serious condition due to severe burns
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing the Swiss police, reported about 40 dead. Some of the victims are foreigners, but identification is difficult due to the nature of the injuries
About 40 ambulances and 10 rescue helicopters were involved in the response. The area of the incident was completely blocked off and a no-fly zone was temporarily introduced over the resort. Investigators are treating the incident as an accident. The authorities have not found any signs of a terrorist act. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation, with one possibility being the careless use of pyrotechnics during the celebration
