Dozens were killed and about 100 others were injured after a massive explosion on New Year's Day at one of Switzerland's signature ski resorts.
According to the AP, AFP and Reuters, Swiss police said that at about 1:30 a.m. on the 1st local time, an explosion and fire occurred at a bar in Crans-Montana, Valais, in southwestern Switzerland. Many people were killed, and the exact number of casualties is still being tallied.
At the time of the accident, more than 100 people had packed into the bar to ring in the new year. Police are identifying the dead and contacting families, and have not announced an official casualty count.
However, Italy's Foreign Ministry said it was notified by Swiss authorities that about 40 people may have died. AFP, citing a local daily, also reported that the death toll is around 40 and the number of injured could be around 100.
The explosion was followed by a fire, leading to many burn victims. Local police and regional authorities said most of the injured are being treated for burns, and more than half are in serious condition. Valais government head Matthias Reynard said the intensive care and operating rooms at Valais Hospital have already reached capacity and some patients are being transferred to hospitals in other regions. Foreign nationals are among the casualties. Valais borders northern Italy.
Investigators are probing the cause of the explosion and fire but do not view it as a terror attack. Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pillu said, "It is too early to determine the cause," while adding, "Investigators have ruled out the possibility of an attack."
According to the AP, the Valais region had banned New Year's fireworks in the past month due to drought conditions that raised the risk of wildfires. After the accident, the entire area around the site was sealed off, and a no-fly zone was established over Crans-Montana.
Crans-Montana is a mountain town about 40 kilometers north of the Matterhorn, one of the iconic peaks of the Swiss Alps, with a population of about 10,000. Its highest elevation reaches 3,000 meters, and it is a world-famous ski resort area. It is considered a key venue on the Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit, and the Alpine World Ski Championships are scheduled to be held there in February next year. The AP said the area had been preparing to welcome athletes for men's and women's downhill test events ahead of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics opening on the 6th of next month.