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“Several dozen” people are believed to have died and about 100 injured in a blaze at a bar in an upmarket Swiss ski resort, with an investigation under way to determine the cause, local police have said.
Police and firefighters rushed to the scene at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a town in Switzerland’s Valais region, after a fire broke out during New Year celebrations.
“We have identified around 100 people injured,” Frédéric Gisler, the police commander for Valais, told a press conference on Thursday. “Sadly, several dozen people are presumed to have died.”
Gisler added that it was “too early to give a more accurate figure” on the death toll, but that victims were expected to be from around the world.
While the cause of the incident remained unclear, local officials ruled out an attack or the use of an explosive device.
Valais’ prosecutor-general Beatrice Pilloud said officials thought a fire was the most probable cause. “At no time was there a question of any attack,” Pilloud said.
An investigation has been launched.
Additional contributions from Gloria Li in Hong Kong
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