A celebratory New Year’s Eve gathering in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana ended in catastrophe following a massive explosion and fire at a local bar. Preliminary reports indicate that the blaze broke out during a holiday party, resulting in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries among the attendees.
Okay News reports that Swiss authorities believe approximately 40 people have lost their lives, while an estimated 100 others sustained injuries. The Italian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Thursday confirming the casualty figures and noting that the scale of the tragedy has prompted an immediate emergency response from regional security and medical teams.
Investigators currently believe that the fire was accidental and have ruled out arson as a likely cause. Identifying the victims has proven challenging for forensic teams due to the intensity of the flames and the severity of the injuries sustained. Local officials are working to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the blast while providing support to the families of those affected.
