New Year's celebration turns into mourning in Switzerland, 40 people killed

A fire broke out in a crowded bar in the Swiss luxury ski resort town of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve, resulting in 40 deaths and multiple injuries.
The police in Valais canton in southwestern Switzerland said early on Thursday that a fire of unknown origin had occurred in a popular bar among tourists, where New Year's celebrations were underway.
According to a police statement, several people lost their lives while others were injured, and the incident was described as serious, with large-scale emergency operations ongoing.
A large number of police, firefighters, and rescue personnel immediately arrived at the scene to assist the victims, while the operation is still underway.
The Swiss newspaper Blick cited a doctor at the scene as suggesting that the death toll could be in the dozens, while the regional newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported around 40 deaths and 100 injuries.
Photos published by Swiss media showed a building engulfed in flames and people screaming and running in the darkness. Some reports suggested that the fire may have been caused by the use of fireworks during a concert, although the police said the cause was still unknown.
Police spokesman Gatan Lathion told AFP that there had been an initial explosion of unknown nature at around 1:30 am at the Le Constellation bar, where more than 100 people had gathered for New Year's celebrations.
Several hours after the explosion, an AFP photographer saw multiple ambulances on the road to Crans-Montana. According to the police, the area has been completely closed to the public and a no-fly zone has been imposed over Crans-Montana.