- Entrou
- Out 5, 2021
- Mensagens
- 59,472
- Gostos Recebidos
- 1,743
Dozens dead and 100 injured in horror Swiss New Year's Eve fire
Police have issued an update after an explosion ripped through a New Year's Eve party at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a town in Switzerland’s Valais region
Police have confirmed several dozen are dead with 100 injuries after an explosion at a New Year's Eve party at a Swiss ski resort.
Of the hundred or so injured, most of them are in a 'serious' condition. Police do not believe it was a terrorist incident with Italian foreign ministry saying 40 are dead.
Medical sources have said that hospitals are "overwhelmed" with burn victims following the incident. The explosion occurred in the basement of the bar at around 01:30am. The basement of the bar reportedly had only one escape and access route.
Theories have emerged on what caused the fire - with a sparkler and candle mention by eye witnesses.
"There were sparklers on all tables in the Constellation, and people were celebrating the new year," said an emergency services spokesman.
There were fears that ‘sparklers may have toppled over’, and lit New Year’s decorations. Another witness believes the fire was started by a sparkler that was put into a champagne bottle in the basement of a nightclub.
Another survivor of the bar fire said they saw it start when a candle connected with the wooden roof of its basement. One of the women told BFM TV: ‘During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders. He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes."
The Valais, Switzerland State Council has declared a state of emergency to mobilise necessary resources.
"We are stunned," said Frederic Gisler, police commander Valais Canton. "In terms of the timing of the event, at around 1.30am smoke was seen in the bar. We can confirm there were 100 injuries and sadly several dozen presumed dead."
"This evening should have been a moment of celebration and it turned into a nightmare which injured seriously and cost the lives of many people," said Council leader for Valais Canton Mathias Reynard.
The explosion reportedly ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana at 1.30am on New Year's Day while festivities were in full-swing. Police initially said there had been "at least 10" fatalities.
Footage depicts the chaotic scenes following the explosion, with crowds of people flooding onto the streets while enormous flames burst from the bar.
The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity, according to regional councilor Mathias Renard.
In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid any accidents that could require medical resources that are already overwhelmed.
Crans-Montana is a beloved winter destination for Brits, boasting 87 miles of ski slopes that cascade from the 2,927-metre summit at the Pointe de la Plaine Morte.
A police spokesperson earlier said: "This is not a terrorist incident, there are investigations going on in every direction."
When asked if there were any foreign nationals that might have been affected by the blast, the spokesperson said: "There certainly would be."
"The fire started around 1:30am this morning in a bar called `Le Constellation,'" police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion had said previously.
"More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead." A reception centre and helpline have been setup for impacted families, Lathion said.
Daily Star Sunday
Police have issued an update after an explosion ripped through a New Year's Eve party at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a town in Switzerland’s Valais region
Police have confirmed several dozen are dead with 100 injuries after an explosion at a New Year's Eve party at a Swiss ski resort.
Of the hundred or so injured, most of them are in a 'serious' condition. Police do not believe it was a terrorist incident with Italian foreign ministry saying 40 are dead.
Medical sources have said that hospitals are "overwhelmed" with burn victims following the incident. The explosion occurred in the basement of the bar at around 01:30am. The basement of the bar reportedly had only one escape and access route.
Theories have emerged on what caused the fire - with a sparkler and candle mention by eye witnesses.
"There were sparklers on all tables in the Constellation, and people were celebrating the new year," said an emergency services spokesman.
There were fears that ‘sparklers may have toppled over’, and lit New Year’s decorations. Another witness believes the fire was started by a sparkler that was put into a champagne bottle in the basement of a nightclub.
Another survivor of the bar fire said they saw it start when a candle connected with the wooden roof of its basement. One of the women told BFM TV: ‘During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders. He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes."
The Valais, Switzerland State Council has declared a state of emergency to mobilise necessary resources.
"We are stunned," said Frederic Gisler, police commander Valais Canton. "In terms of the timing of the event, at around 1.30am smoke was seen in the bar. We can confirm there were 100 injuries and sadly several dozen presumed dead."
"This evening should have been a moment of celebration and it turned into a nightmare which injured seriously and cost the lives of many people," said Council leader for Valais Canton Mathias Reynard.
The explosion reportedly ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana at 1.30am on New Year's Day while festivities were in full-swing. Police initially said there had been "at least 10" fatalities.
Footage depicts the chaotic scenes following the explosion, with crowds of people flooding onto the streets while enormous flames burst from the bar.
The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity, according to regional councilor Mathias Renard.
In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid any accidents that could require medical resources that are already overwhelmed.
Crans-Montana is a beloved winter destination for Brits, boasting 87 miles of ski slopes that cascade from the 2,927-metre summit at the Pointe de la Plaine Morte.
A police spokesperson earlier said: "This is not a terrorist incident, there are investigations going on in every direction."
When asked if there were any foreign nationals that might have been affected by the blast, the spokesperson said: "There certainly would be."
"The fire started around 1:30am this morning in a bar called `Le Constellation,'" police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion had said previously.
"More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead." A reception centre and helpline have been setup for impacted families, Lathion said.
Daily Star Sunday