Tragic explosion during New Year's Eve celebrations in Switzerland: 40 dead and 100 injured

Tragedy in Switzerland, during a New Year's Eve party in the famous ski resort of Crans-Montana.

During the celebrations at the "Le Constellation" club (it appears there was a party with many young people, including minors), an explosion occurred, killing several people—about forty. At least a hundred people were injured, suffering severe burns. The bodies were also burned and disfigured, making identification difficult.

"There was an explosion of unknown origin," said Gaëtan Lathion, a police spokesman for the canton of Valais in southwestern Switzerland. "There are several injuries and several deaths."

Initial reports indicated one or more explosions in the basement of the club , which was then ravaged by flames, but local authorities have ruled out terrorist activity. The tragedy may have been caused by fireworks set off inside the club . According to the accounts of two young French women on the all-news TV station BFM, the flames originated from lit candles on champagne bottles , which set fire to the wooden ceiling. "One of the candles was held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire. Within a few dozen seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. It was all made of wood," the two girls, Emma and Albane, said.

Ten helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 first responders were dispatched to the scene, and most of the injured were transferred to the Valais hospital, where the intensive care unit is now full.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has not ruled out the possibility that Italians may be among the victims. Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado has been on site to monitor the situation and speaks of " some compatriots of whom there is no news ." "Identification will take time," he added. "Unfortunately, the victims cannot be identified due to the severe burns they sustained."

Meanwhile, the major emergency plan has also been activated at the Niguarda hospital, with injuries expected.

- UPDATE IN PROGRESS -