Dozens killed in New Year’s Eve bar explosion at Swiss ski resort

Authorities have not confirmed an exact death toll. Police commanderFrédéric Gislertold reporters that “several dozens” of people were presumed dead. The Italian foreign ministry later said Swiss police estimates pointed to about 40 fatalities. Emergency services said more than 100 people were injured, many with severe burns. Hospitals across French-speaking Switzerland were placed under strain as victims were rushed in from the mountain resort. The intensive care unit at Valais hospital reached capacity within hours, forcing transfers to other facilities. Ten medical helicopters and 40 ambulances were deployed to the scene. More than 150 emergency responders took part in the operation. A no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana to allow air evacuations to continue without disruption. “The scale of the incident is exceptional,” saidStéphane Ganzer, head of security for Valais canton, in an interview with Swiss broadcasterRTS. He confirmed that a regional state of emergency had been declared to support medical services and rescue operations. Police spokespersonGaetan Lathionsaid investigators were working to establish the cause of the explosion. “There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” he toldAFP. He added that authorities were treating the incident as an accident and had ruled out terrorism or a deliberate attack. Prosecutor-generalBéatrice Pilloudsaid forensic resources had been mobilised to identify victims and return bodies to families as quickly as possible. “Identification is a priority,” she toldRTS. “The number of victims requires extensive forensic work.” The bar had capacity for up to 300 or 400 people. Police told Swiss newspaperBlickthat more than 100 were inside at the time of the explosion. The resort attracts large numbers of international tourists during the winter season, and authorities confirmed that several victims were foreign nationals. Le Constellation is known as a popular late-night venue, particularly among young adults. Crans-Montana lies in southwestern Switzerland, about 200 kilometres south of Bern, in a region known for luxury hotels, international visitors and winter sports. The resort was hosting peak-season crowds at the time of the incident. Police sealed off the area around the bar and continued to guard the site throughout New Year’s Day. HT --- **News Source:** Helsinki Times **Original Article:** [https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/28373-dozens-killed-in-new-year-s-eve-bar-explosion-at-swiss-ski-resort.html](https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/28373-dozens-killed-in-new-year-s-eve-bar-explosion-at-swiss-ski-resort.html) *This article was originally published on helsinkitimes.fi and is shared here for informational purposes.*