A fierce blaze that broke out in a Swiss ski resort during New Year's Eve celebrations has killed about 40 people and injured 115, police said on Thursday afternoon.

The catastrophe occurred during the early hours of Thursday at Le Constellation, a bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin has described the fire as "one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced".

Here is what we know so far.

Follow latest: Several dozen feared dead in fire

Video shows fire at ski resort bar

How many people have died or been injured?

Swiss police broke the news on Thursday afternoon that about 40 people had been killed in the blaze.

In a news conference, they said a further 115 were wounded, the majority of whom suffered serious injuries.

"This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare," said Mathias Renard, head of the regional government.

This morning the Italian foreign ministry said many victims had not yet been identified due to the severe burns on their bodies.

The intensive care unit of the local hospital is full, Mr Renard said earlier. Patients are being transferred to other facilities around the country.

He said 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances were mobilised after the alarm was raised.

Image: Emergency services at the scene of the fire. Pic: AP

Image: Pic: Reuters

A witness who spoke to French broadcaster BFMTV said people smashed windows to try to escape the blaze as parents rushed to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.

The witness, who said he watched from across the street, likened what he saw to a horror movie.

What are the nationalities of the victims?

The Swiss authorities said some of the victims are from other countries, but the nationalities and identities of those killed and injured are yet to be confirmed.

Two French nationals are among the injured, France's foreign ministry said.

Sixteen Italians have been reported missing with around a dozen more being treated in hospital, Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said.

"I hope there are no (Italian) victims, but we cannot rule anything out," he told Italy's Sky TG24, describing the situation as "chaotic".

Mr Tajani, who has been in regular contact with Swiss authorities throughout Thursday, said the confirmed number of fatalities stood at 47. He added that the injured Italians had suffered severe burns.

The UK embassy in Switzerland said: "We continue to monitor the situation. Whilst we have not been approached for assistance, our staff stand ready to support British nationals abroad 24/7."

Image: Pic: AP

Where did the incident happen?

The bar is in Crans-Montana, in the Valais region at the heart of the Swiss Alps, which is popular with British tourists and skiers from across Europe.

It is just 40km (25m) north of the Matterhorn, one of the most famous Alpine peaks, and approximately two hours from the Swiss capital of Bern.

What happened?

The incident occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am UK time) while guests were celebrating the start of 2026.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at the moment, but officials have ruled out an attack.

Image: Emergency teams survey scene of fatal resort bar fire

Italy's ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, at the scene, told Italy's Sky TG24 that the blaze was started by someone letting off a firecracker inside the bar.

"Someone set off a firecracker inside the venue and this firecracker set fire to the ceiling - and that started the blaze," he said.

Two French women who claim to have escaped from the venue after the fire broke out told BFMTV that the blaze originated from one of the "birthday candles" placed on champagne bottles.

"One of them was brought too close to the ceiling, which caught fire. In a few dozen seconds, the whole ceiling was on fire. Everything was made of wood," one of the women said.

Is the incident being treated as terror-related?

No. Swiss authorities confirmed the incident is being treated as a fire and not an attack.

"At the moment we are considering this a fire and we are not considering the ‍possibility of an attack," prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said at a press conference.

Authorities have opened a full investigation.