AfriPulse
Ambulances seen at the venue of the explosion. Pic: Social Media/BBC
Several people have been killed and dozens injured in an explosion at a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
According to the BBC, the blast occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time at Le Constellation bar in the Valais region, a popular destination for international tourists.
Police said more than 100 people were inside the venue when the explosion triggered a fire.
A spokesperson for the Valais Cantonal Police confirmed that there were “several fatalities and several injured,” but said authorities were not yet able to provide an exact death toll as emergency operations and identification efforts were still ongoing.
Emergency services, including police, firefighters, ambulances and air rescue teams, were deployed in large numbers to the scene.
The area around the bar has been completely cordoned off, with a temporary no-fly zone imposed over Crans-Montana to allow rescue operations to continue unhindered.
Images and videos circulating on social media, and cited by Swiss media, showed flames engulfing part of the building as emergency vehicles lined nearby streets.
Police said the cause of the explosion remains unknown, though local reports speculating about fireworks or pyrotechnics have not been confirmed.
Authorities have set up a helpline for families and friends seeking information about those affected by the incident.
A press briefing by police and regional prosecutors is expected later as investigators work to establish what caused the blast.
Crans-Montana, located in southwestern Switzerland, is one of the country’s most exclusive ski resorts and is scheduled to host an international speed skiing World Cup event later this month.
Source: TheWhistler | Read the Full Story…
