An explosion followed by a fire caused at least 40 deaths on New Year’s Eve, in a bar at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. The incident occurred at Le Constellation Bar and Lounge, in the resort of Crans-Montana, when the space was packed for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Contacted by the Lusa agency, an official source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) stated that “so far there is no indication of Portuguese victims”, but it is necessary to wait, taking into account the number of Portuguese living in Switzerland and the Canton of Valais, where the fire occurred.
The same source added that Portugal is monitoring the situation and in contact with the Swiss authorities and highlighted that emergency contacts for situations of this type have not received any requests.
There are 270,000 Portuguese people in Switzerland and 64,000 in the Canton of Valais.
According to the commander of the Cantonal Police of Valais, the fire in a bar in the ski resort of Crans Montana, Switzerland, caused “dozens of deaths” and around 100 injuries.
Frederic Gisler said that many of those injured in the fire – which started at around 01:30 (00:30 in Lisbon), after several explosions were recorded during the New Year’s Eve party taking place at the Le Constellation bar – are in serious condition.
The police have not yet provided information on the cause of the fire, but have already ruled out the possibility of an attack.
The attorney general of the Swiss canton of Valais, Beatrice Pilloud, said at the same press conference that “the priority is the work of forensic medicine so that the fatal victims can be identified.”
The Valais cantonal government declared a state of emergency from 09:00 today (08:00 in Lisbon) to facilitate the action of emergency services.
Crans Montana is a winter sports resort that attracts tourists from all over the world – located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, around 40 kilometers north of the Matterhorn, one of the most famous Alpine peaks – and with a population of around 10,000 residents.
