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Several killed as explosion rips through bar in Switzerland's Crans Montana resort town
An explosion rocked the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.
A deadly blast struck a crowded bar in the high-end Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana in Switzerland during New Year celebrations, leaving multiple people dead and several others wounded, authorities said on Thursday.
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Police in the southwestern canton of Valais confirmed that an explosion, the cause of which is still unclear, occurred in the early hours of the morning. Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesperson, told news agency AFP that the incident resulted in numerous casualties, including fatalities.
“There has been an explosion of unknown origin. There are several injured, and several dead,” Lathion said, as quoted in the report. According to a report by Sky News citing police sources, at least 10 people were killed in the blast, though some local outlets suggested the death toll could be higher. The exact number of deaths is currently unknown.
Police said the bar was crowded with more than 100 people when the explosion occurred, as per a Reuters report. Authorities have sealed off the entire area, and a temporary no-fly zone has been enforced over Crans-Montana, the report added, quoting a police statement.
A purported video of the incident is making rounds on social media. Take a look:
HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of this video.
Police said the explosion took place at around 1:30 am local time at a bar known as Le Constellation, a well-known venue frequented by tourists visiting the upscale ski resort.
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Images circulated by Swiss media outlets showed flames engulfing part of the building housing the bar, with fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles deployed at the scene as emergency responders worked through the night, the AFP report said.
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Authorities said rescue and investigation operations were still ongoing, with emergency services focused on assisting the injured, securing the area and determining what triggered the explosion, the report noted.
The incident has cast a dark shadow over New Year festivities at the luxury ski resort, as officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blast and the resultant fire.
More details are underway.
(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)
