‘Several’ fatalities have been reported and others sustained injuries after an explosion at a Crans-Montana bar, a ski resort town in Switzerland.
Local police estimate that over 100 individuals were present at the bar, named Le Constellation, situated in the upscale ski resort approximately two hours away from Switzerland’s capital, Bern.
As revellers were continuing their New Year’s celebrations, the explosion occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time.
Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesperson from Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, told AFP: “More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead.”
Unverified videos shared on social media purport to show the fire from the street outside the bar.
Other images from the scene display ambulances and at least one fire truck.
Lathion confirmed the explosion, noting its cause remains ‘unknown’ at this time.
Authorities have since cordoned off the vicinity around Le Constellation and established a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana following the explosion.
When queried by BBC News regarding the number of casualties, a police spokesperson stated, “We can’t say yet. Several.”
Lathion also noted the establishment of a reception center and helpline to support families affected by the incident.
He commented: “We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists.”
BBC reporter Silvia Costeloe, on-site, noted police have set up a perimeter around the area and are beginning forensic work behind white screens.
Costeloe reported, “I spoke to some people who heard the explosion, who then heard hours of ambulances afterwards.”
She described the bar as an established venue, having been in existence for at least 40 years.
Costeloe noted the Constellation is quite expansive, with TV screens upstairs for viewing sports events.
“Downstairs it just had a big bar where I suppose yesterday people would have been dancing and drinking,” she added. “You go there for beers – it’s a kind of young bar.”
“The crowd would have been a mix of young people, Swiss locals, and visitors from nearby valleys celebrating in Crans-Montana.”
Police announced that a news conference regarding the incident is scheduled for early New Year’s Day.