Swiss police said the blast occurred at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion. A fire broke out after the blast.

Bern: Several people were killed and many others injured in a massive fire that broke out after an explosion at a bar during New Year's celebrations in Switzerland. Swiss police said the blast occurred at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. Authorities have not yet determined the cause. "The explosion occurred due to unknown reasons," Gaëtan Lathion, police spokesman in the Valais canton in southwestern Switzerland, told AFP. The blast occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time.

A video of the incident surfaced on social media showing a bar on fire and people running outside. Police said a helpline has been set up for the families of those affected. Emergency services are on the scene for relief and rescue operations. Ambulances have been deployed, and Air-Glacier helicopters have also been deployed to evacuate people.

Famous tourist spot in Switzerland

Crans-Montana, nestled among the Swiss Alps, is a popular tourist destination, attracting people from around the world for activities like skiing, snowboarding, and golf. This place is about two hours from Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Every year, a large number of tourists arrive here for New Year's celebrations. Police said people were celebrating New Year's when the explosion occurred. Rescue operations are still underway.

Explosion in the basement of the bar

According to local media reports, the explosion occurred in the basement of the bar and then a fire broke out. Le Constellation Bar is usually open until 2:00 am and has a seating capacity of 400 people. RTS reported that investigators are not treating the incident as a criminal act at this early stage. The possibility of an accident has not been ruled out.

 PC:NBT