Dozens Dead, Over 100 Injured in Swiss Alps Bar Fire
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps killed dozens of people and injured more than 100 during a New Year's celebration early Thursday morning. The blaze occurred at Le Constellation, a bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais, according to Swiss authorities.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours, claiming the lives of approximately 40 people, according to the New York Times. Many of the victims were young people who had gathered to celebrate the New Year.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin postponed a scheduled New Year's address to travel to the scene of the tragedy. "This tragedy occurred in a place that is naturally associated with life and joy," Parmelin said, according to the New York Times. He described the event as "one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced."
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, according to NPR. Authorities are working to identify the dead and return their remains to their families, the New York Times reported.
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