- Several dozen people are “presumed dead” in a violent fire which broke out during the night of New Year’s Eve in the Crans-Montana ski resort.
- Around a hundred injured people, most of them in serious condition, are being treated in various hospitals across the country.
- A fierce fight to save many patients, including serious burn victims, some of whom are still minors.
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Drama in Crans-Montana: dozens dead in a bar fire on New Year’s Eve
In a few minutes, the party turned into an ordeal. The police fear that “several dozen people”
have perished (new window) in a violent fire on New Year’s Eve in a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana (new window). The flames which ravaged the Le Constellation establishment (new window) also left around a hundred injured, “most seriously”
. They were transported to several hospitals, which quickly put themselves in battle order.
“All the injured were able to be treated”
at this stage, announced this Thursday morning the chief of the cantonal police, Frédéric Gisler, during a press conference. At his side, the president of the Valais State Council Mathias Reynard detailed the substantial means put in place by the emergency services in response to an evening of “nightmare”
(new window) : ten helicopters, 40 ambulances and “150 health workers”
.
He added that the hundred injured, “mostly serious”
were treated mainly at the Valais hospital, which triggered its “plan catastrophe”
. The intensive care department and the operating theater are “complete”
reported the manager, who clarified that the “special situation”
had been declared in the canton.
Severe burn victims “16 to 26 years old on average” treated in Lausanne
Faced with this saturation, injured people were transferred to different hospitals across Switzerland. More than a dozen were taken to the university hospital in Zurich in the north of the country, according to the Keystone-ATS news agency, while others were sent to hospitals in Lausanne and Geneva. The Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) thus received six patients, including four transported by helicopter and two transported by ambulance, according to RTS (new window).
“Switzerland stands together and shows solidarity”
assured Mathias Reynard. “Our hospital services are completely overloaded, (…) all our medical and healthcare teams are on the front lines”
he insisted in an interview with Temps
(new window). A particularly difficult fight: he specified that “numerous (…) serious burn victims”
(new window) are to be deplored.
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“It’s mourning, it’s horror”: the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana in shock after the tragedy
Only two Swiss establishments specialize in these emergency cases: the Zurich University Hospital, and the Vaud University Hospital Center (CHUV), located in Lausanne. The latter took care of 22 serious burn victims, who presented “above 20% of body surface area affected”
in other words the cases “the most serious”
(new window)explained its director Claire Charmet to the Swiss daily 24 Hours
(new window). Particularly young patients, “around 16 to 26 years old on average”
.
“We have recalled all possible teams”
et “armed with rooms which are designed to be mobilized in the event of a disaster, those of Covid”
she said. Without being able to comment on the number of vital prognoses involved (new window)the manager of the establishment stressed that“there were eight shocks”
. “Patients are being stabilized and moved to the operating room or specialized beds”
she added, warning that this care “will be long and intense, we are leaving over several weeks or even months”
.
Treatment in other European hospitals?
Now is the time for coordination “nationale”
but also “European”
she continued, to possibly transfer the injured to dedicated centers. The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, announced on X that the Niguarda center in Milan, specialized in the treatment of severe burn victims, was “available”
. He is “possible that there will be a call for solidarity towards hospitals outside Switzerland”
but it is still “too early”
to confirm it, however, indicated Mathias Reynard to the Temps
.
On the French side, the Quai d’Orsay indicated that at least two French (new window) were among the wounded, and that“They were immediately taken care of by the emergency services”
. The ministry said it would stay in touch “with the Swiss authorities in case other nationals are concerned”
.
To avoid hindering the work of caregivers and further congesting already saturated services, local authorities have called on residents to “prudence”
. “If the population wants to show solidarity and usefulness, then we must be careful during the hours that follow”
urged Mathias Reynard, calling on residents not to “add disaster to this drama
“.
