A major emergency response is underway after several people were killed and others injured after a fire broke out during New Year’s celebrations at a bar in Swiss Alps, police said early Thursday.
The fire started around 1:30 a.m. this morning in a bar called ‘Le Constellation,’ in the Alpine ski resort municipality of Crans-Montana, police spokesperson Gaëtan Lathion told The Associated Press.
“More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead,” he said, adding, “We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is a internationally renown ski resort with lots of tourists.”
In separate statement, police from the Valaisanne canton, or region, said a “major emergency response” was underway and a no-fly zone had been imposed over Crans-Montana.
“Numerous emergency personnel from the police, fire brigade and rescue services immediately responded to provide assistance to the many affected individuals,” the statement said. A reception center and helpline have been setup for impacted families, the statement added.
Crans-Montana is a luxury ski resort town in the region of Valais approximately two hours from the Swiss capital of Bern.
The municipality was formed only nine years ago, on Jan. 1, 2017, when multiple towns merged.
Police said that no further information will be released before a news conference that is scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in Crans-Montana. The community is in the heart of the Swiss Alps, just 25 miles north of the Matterhorn.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.