Around 40 people are believed to have been killed after an explosion and fire tore through a bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, according to the Italian foreign ministry, citing Swiss police.

Swiss authorities had earlier said during a press conference that “several dozen” people were presumed dead but stressed that an exact figure could not yet be confirmed. The Italian foreign ministry later said it believed around 40 people had died, adding that the victims could not be immediately identified because of the severity of their burns, according to Reuters.

The explosion occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. GMT) at the Constellation Bar, which was crowded with revelers welcoming the new year. Swiss police confirmed that at least 100 people were injured in the incident. According to the Swiss authorities most of the injured have suffered “significant” injuries, including severe burns. Victims are believed to be of several different nationalities, and identification efforts are ongoing.

Emergency services mounted a large-scale response. Police said around 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances and approximately 150 responders were deployed to the scene, while the emergency operation is expected to continue for several days.

Hospitals in the region are under intense pressure. Officials said the intensive care unit at Valais Hospital is now full, with patients being transferred elsewhere for specialist burns treatment. Authorities urged the public to take extra care and avoid putting unnecessary strain on medical facilities.

No cause for the explosion and subsequent fire has been announced. However, the public prosecutor has ruled out an attack. Swiss authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and that further information will be released as it becomes available.

The Greek Foreign Ministry also expressed its condolences following the tragedy.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos said the explosion had caused deep sorrow and stressed Greece’s support for Switzerland.

“This is something that has caused great pain to all of us, and we will always stand by Switzerland to help in any way we can,” Loverdos said. “It is a tragedy that has saddened everyone. We hope to have more information soon and that the number of victims will ultimately be as low as possible.”

He added that Greek diplomatic authorities in Bern were mobilized immediately and are closely monitoring developments. Loverdos said there is currently no information indicating that Greek nationals are among the victims and expressed hope that no Greeks were affected.

Speaking to Greek state broadcaster ERT, Loverdos also noted that it was a relief the incident was not a terrorist attack, saying such a scenario would have had serious political and diplomatic consequences.

Crans-Montana is a luxury Alpine resort in the canton of Valais, located in the Swiss Alps, about two hours from the Swiss capital, Bern. Popular with international tourists, the resort is known for its extensive ski area and regularly hosts major winter sports events, including races on the FIS World Cup calendar.