How a New Year's party 'turned into a nightmare': What we know about deadly Swiss ski resort fire
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.
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".
