Crans-Montana, Switzerland (AFP News): At least 40 people have died, and several others have been injured following an explosion and fire at a bar in the luxury Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss police said early Thursday.
Some local media reports suggest the death toll could be higher. Police confirmed that many of the injured are receiving treatment for burns. “There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” said Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesman in the Wallis canton of southwestern Switzerland.
“There are several injured and several dead.”The blast occurred around 1:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) at “Le Constellation”, a bar popular with tourists celebrating the New Year. Swiss media images showed the building engulfed in flames, with emergency services on site.
Authorities said more than 100 people were inside the bar at the time. “We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with many tourists,” Lathion told “The Guardian.
