Canton Valais police chief Frédéric Gisler said at a press conference that it would take some time to identify the bodies of those who died in a fire in an alpine resort in Switzerland. About 40 people were killed and 115 others were injured after an explosion rocked a bar called “Le Constellation” in the Crans-Montana ski resort in southwestern Switzerland.
“We count about 40 people who have died and about 115 injured, most of them seriously,” Frederic Gisler, police chief in the canton of Valais in southwestern Switzerland, told AFP.
He further said that in the coming days, the priority would be to identify those who died “so that their bodies can be quickly returned” to their families.
The area was completely closed off and a no-fly zone was declared over Crans-Montana. The measures were announced in a statement on Thursday, according to Reuters.
“One of the worst tragedies”
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the deadly bar fire as “one of the worst tragedies” Switzerland has ever faced. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Thursday during New Year’s celebrations at Le Constellation, a bar popular with international tourists. Swiss police said nearly 100 people were inside the venue when the fire broke out.
After the incident, Parmelin said authorities were investigating the “exact circumstances” of the fire. “We owe it to the victims,” their families and all Swiss citizens, he said, according to the BBC.
He announced that flags across the country would be flown at half-mast for five days, adding that “a tragedy of this magnitude” must never happen again.
Video of the massive fire captured the horror and chaos that erupted in the area. The fire can be seen on video along with people standing outside. A picture of the destruction shows a pile of rubble as rescuers try to save the victims.
