Explosion at Alpine Bar in Switzerland on New Year’s Eve Causes Heavy Casualties | WPN World People News

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, an explosion and fire broke out at a bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana in Valais, Switzerland. Local media and police reported severe casualties at the scene. The incident occurred during a New Year’s Eve party, with an estimated crowd of more than 100 people. Police said dozens may have been killed and more than 100 injured.

Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly, and panic during attempts to escape led to crowd surges. The interior of the bar was chaotic. The injured were transported by emergency services to nearby hospitals, with some in critical condition. Authorities said the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, and accidental factors have not been ruled out. Police also stated that terrorism is unlikely, and the current focus is on identifying the deceased and providing medical care.

Swiss officials announced a five-day national mourning period, as the government and rescue agencies work to handle the aftermath. The Valais police chief said identifying the victims could take several days and that families have been notified. Authorities have cordoned off the affected area and imposed flight restrictions in the surrounding airspace to facilitate rescue and investigative operations.