Dozens of people are presumed dead after a fire broke out at a bar in Switzerland during a New Year’s Eve celebration.
An explosion was heard in the basement of Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, a ski resort in Valais, at around 1.30am local time.
Around 100 people were also injured, many with severe burns, police chief Frédéric Gisler said at a press conference this morning.
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He added that it is ‘probable’ that people of different nationalities were involved in the incident.
The cause of the fire is unclear but no criminal activity is suspected.
Council president Matthias Reynard added: ‘This evening should have been a moment of celebration – of coming together – and it turned into a nightmare.’
Footage on social media, seemingly taken from the road outside the bar, shows flames inside the ground floor of the two-story building.
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, an insider told broadcaster RTS.
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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