Around 40 people were killed and about 100 injured after an explosion tore through a bar at a Swiss ski resort during New Year celebrations, police said.
The blast occurred shortly after midnight at a crowded bar in the alpine resort of Crans-Montana in southern Switzerland. Emergency services said the explosion was followed by a major fire, trapping people inside the venue.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, ambulances and medical helicopters, were deployed to the scene. Many of the injured suffered serious burns and blast-related injuries and were taken to hospitals across the region.
Police said there was no indication of terrorism and that the incident was being treated as an accident. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, and investigators have opened an inquiry.
Authorities have set up emergency hotlines to help families locate relatives and warned that casualty figures could change as rescue and identification efforts continue.
