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Agadir – A New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a tragedy after a fire tore through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, leaving around 40 people dead and approximately 100 injured, according to Swiss police.
The Swiss police reported that the fire spread rapidly and casualties were so severe that they struggled to identify victims.
The fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. local time inside a popular bar known as “Le Constellation,” which was packed with tourists welcoming the New Year.
The authorities reported that the incident may have been triggered by an explosion of unknown origin. Although the cause remains unclear, authorities say it appeared to be an accident rather than an attack.
Swiss police spokesperson, Gaëtan Lathion, shared to AFP that “There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” adding that “There are several injured and several dead.”
On Thursday morning, Mathias Reynard, regional council leader Valais Canton, described the incident at a press conference as a moment of celebration “turned into a nightmare.”
According to witness accounts shared with French broadcaster BFMTV, the fire may have started when a candle ignited a wooden ceiling in the bar’s basement. The flames reportedly spread quickly, causing part of the ceiling to collapse and trapping people inside.
Emergency services, including firefighters, ambulances, and air rescue teams, were swiftly deployed to the scene. Authorities continue to investigate, while hospitals in the region remain on high alert as victims receive treatment.
