Crans-Montana: Dozens of people are feared dead and many others seriously injured after a powerful explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year celebrations in the luxury Alpine resort of Crans-Montana.
While Swiss police have not yet released an official death toll, Italy’s foreign ministry, citing information from Swiss authorities, said around 40 people are believed to have been killed. Police have so far described the number of fatalities only as being in the tens.
The blast occurred at around 1.30 a.m. at a bar named Le Constellation, where a large crowd had gathered to mark the New Year. The explosion sparked a major fire, leaving many victims with severe burns.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, deploying 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to evacuate the injured from the mountainous resort. Authorities said about 100 people were hurt, most of them in serious condition.
Hospitals in the Valais canton were quickly overwhelmed. The intensive care unit at the main regional hospital reached capacity, forcing doctors to transfer patients to medical facilities in other parts of Switzerland. Officials confirmed that some of the victims were foreign nationals, reflecting the resort’s popularity with international tourists during the holiday season.
Police sealed off the entire area and imposed a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana as investigators began examining the cause of the blast. Authorities said the explosion was of unknown origin and is being treated as a fire-related incident rather than a deliberate attack. Prosecutors said efforts were underway to identify the victims and ensure their bodies are returned to families as quickly as possible.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over New Year celebrations in Switzerland, as the country grapples with one of the deadliest incidents in a tourist resort in recent years.
