The Portuguese emigrant had gone to the Sion hospital on the night of December 31st “due to a small domestic accident”, explained Emídio Sousa, who indicated that this information was confirmed to him by the consul general in Geneva, Maria Leonor Penalva Esteves
The Portuguese emigrant who had been injured in the fire in Switzerland was not one of the victims of the tragedy and was in hospital in Sion due to a “minor domestic accident”, Emídio Sousa confirmed to Lusa.
According to the explanation given to Lusa by the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities (SECP), following news published by Jornal de Notícias, the 40-year-old Portuguese woman, who emigrated to Switzerland, had been counted by the Swiss authorities as being among the victims of the deadly fire that devastated a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais (southwest).
The Portuguese emigrant had gone to the Sion hospital on the night of December 31st “due to a minor domestic accident”, explained the Secretary of State, who indicated that this information was confirmed to him by the consul general in Geneva, Maria Leonor Penalva Esteves.
“The Portuguese citizen has already been discharged from hospital”, added the SECP.
A Portuguese citizen, originally from Santa Maria da Feira, in the district of Aveiro, remains missing. However, the details of his disappearance and whether it is related to the fire at the ski resort are not yet known.
According to Emídio Sousa, a helpline was created at the Portuguese embassy and consulate in Switzerland so that people who had a missing loved one – family or friend – could inform the ministry given that there are bodies to be identified and because “many of the victims are hospitalized, but are not identified”.
The Secretary of State stressed that Portugal is completely available for “whatever is necessary” and that he trusts that the Swiss authorities “are up to this challenge”.
The deadly fire has so far caused 40 deaths and 119 injuries.
