An explosion occurred on Thursday during New Year's celebrations at the Alpine ski resort in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. News media outlet The Mirror, citing local media, reported that 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the blast.
Swiss police held a press conference at 10:00 AM local time on Thursday. They stated that the explosion occurred at 1:30 AM in the resort's Constellation bar. While police did not confirm the number of fatalities, they said that several dozen people were feared dead, including citizens of several countries.
Crans-Montana has been declared a no-fly zone. Police and emergency teams are on the scene conducting rescue operations. The injured have been taken to hospitals. Doctors reported that hospitals are overwhelmed with burn victims, and many of the injured are in critical condition.
Crans-Montana is located 100 km from the world-famous tourist destination Interlaken.
The site of the incident, Crans-Montana, is approximately 100 km from Interlaken, a world-renowned tourist destination famous for adventure sports. People from all over the world travel there for paragliding, skiing, and trekking. Interlaken, situated between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, provides easy access to the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains of the Alps.
Fireworks suspected as the cause of the blast
According to the Swiss news outlet Blick, the explosion and subsequent fire may have been caused by fireworks during a concert.
Upon receiving news of the incident, police, fire brigades, and ambulance teams rushed to the scene. The area around the explosion site has been sealed off.
Local residents reported that panic ensued after the blast. Rescue helicopters were seen flying overhead every 10 minutes. According to Swiss media, all available rescue helicopters have been deployed to assist in the operation. Italy has also sent a helicopter.
Crans-Montana: Switzerland's most expensive area
Crans-Montana is a luxury ski resort located in the Swiss Alps. It is about two hours from the Swiss capital, Bern, and attracts a large number of tourists every year, especially during the winter and New Year's holidays.
This town of 15,000 inhabitants is considered one of the most exclusive and expensive areas in the country and is known for its year-round sunshine. This is because it is situated on a south-facing plateau in the Rhône Valley.
From Crans-Montana, the Matterhorn mountain is visible, which is considered one of Switzerland's most iconic landmarks. The resort also offers spectacular views of other high peaks, such as Mont Blanc.
1.png)
2.png)
