At least 40 dead and 115 injured in bar fire at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort

At least 40 people have died and 115 others were injured in a fire that tore through a bar in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana early Thursday, Swiss authorities confirmed.

Frederic Gisler, commander of the Valais Cantonal Police, gave the first official toll at a joint press conference with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and other officials. “As I speak to you, we have identified around 40 people who have died, and another 115 people are severely injured,” Gisler said.

Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said it is too early to determine the cause of the blaze, as experts have not yet been able to enter the wreckage. She emphasized that there is no indication of any attack. “At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” she said.

The fire broke out around 1:30 AM local time during New Year celebrations at the crowded Le Constellation bar. Eyewitnesses suggested pyrotechnics may have triggered the blaze. Authorities have closed the area to the public and imposed a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana.

The Crans-Montana resort, known for international ski and golf events, was set to host a speed skiing FIS World Cup event later this month. Overnight, the bar turned from a scene of revelry into what could become one of Switzerland’s deadliest peacetime tragedies.