‘Several’ people have died in a fire at a bar in Switzerland during a New Year’s Eve celebration.
The fire broke out at around 1.30am local time after an explosion tore open the basement of Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, a ski resort in Valais.
Numerous people were also injured, with Swiss outlet Le Nouvelliste reporting around 40 dead and 100 injured.
Footage on social media, seemingly taken from the road outside the bar, shows flames inside the ground floor of the two-story building.
An official said at a news conference this morning: ‘This evening should have been a moment of celebration, of coming together, and it turned into a nightmare.’
The cause of the blast is unclear and criminal activity is not suspected, according to the French-language Swiss broadcaster RTS.
Local media says the blast was caused by pyrotechnics, such as fireworks.
A bar-goer not present at the incident told Blick that the basement has one escape and access route.
He said: ‘If panic breaks out here, how would I get back to daylight?’
Hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland were overwhelmed with burn victims in the aftermath of the blaze, insiders say.
The area has been closed off and a no-fly zone has been imposed over Crans-Montana.
Crans-Montana is a popular destination in the Swiss Alps, particularly among British skiers, known for its views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
Officials banned New Year’s firework displays on Tuesday, warning that ‘due to the lack of rainfall’ in December, the risk of fire was high.
Le Constellation, sometimes called the Constellation Bar, has been open for around 40 years. It can accommodate up to 300 people.
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