Tragedy in Crans-Montana. “The numbers regarding the dead and injured are not final”

113 of the 119 people injured in the fire in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana have been identified, including one Polish citizen, Frederic Gisler, the police commander of the canton of Valais, announced at a press conference of the Swiss authorities and services on Friday.

Among the 113 identified, there are 71 Swiss citizens, 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbs, a Bosnian, a Pole, a Portuguese, a Belgian and a Luxembourger, Gisler said.

The information about the injured Pole was confirmed by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maciej Wewiór said that the injured person is a man who is hospitalized in Switzerland and is under the care of his family. – If there is a need for any support from our facility, we are of course ready to provide full consular assistance – declared the ministry spokesman.

At a press conference in the city of Sion, near Crans-Montana, the head of the cantonal authorities of Valais, Mathias Reynard, announced that approximately 50 injured people would be treated outside Switzerland. – About 50 injured people have been transported or will be transported to specialized burn treatment centers in countries that have offered help, he said.

He added that the death toll is still estimated at 40.

– Solidarity is working in the face of this tragedy – emphasized Reynard. – Our teams are doing everything possible to save lives, support families (of those killed and injured – PAP) and identify victims as quickly as possible.

The latest information was also provided by cantonal prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud, who is investigating the fire. She informed that the two owners of the bar had already been questioned – a French couple who bought the premises in 2015.

– All possibilities are considered, none are ignored. However, everything indicates that the fire started from Bengal sparklers attached to champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling.. From that moment everything started to burn, there was a very violent and extensive fire, she said.

Pilloud said the next stage of the investigation would include aspects such as assessing whether the bar complied with fire safety regulations, previous renovations to the premises, the availability of appropriate fire extinguishing systems and determining whether the exit doors met standards.

She emphasized that all the numbers given so far regarding the dead and injured are not final.

Pilloud said that no one has been charged in this case yet. -The investigation will continue to focus on the work carried out at the bar, permits to operate the premises, security measures, the number of people present on site and escape routes, she explained.

The head of the cantonal emergency services, Fredy-Michel Roten, discussed the measures implemented on Thursday after the tragedy. – The injured were subjected to a preliminary assessment depending on (…) their condition. Then they were taken to hospitals, he said. He added that “some patients were intubated and placed in a medically induced coma.”

40 ambulances, 13 helicopters and two heavy rescue vehicles were mobilized for the rescue operation. As of Thursday, 150 rescuers, doctors and emergency medicine psychologists have been working on site.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland was ready to provide specialized medical care to those injured in the fire. Karolina Gałecka, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Interior and Administration, said that the offers included: places in the Burn Treatment Center in Siemianowice Śląskie.

– Poland offered 14 places for victims of the fire in the hospital in Siemianowice Śląskie. These are four places in the ICU and 10 for patients with minor injuries, Gałecka said. The State Medical Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration is also involved in the assistance. (PAP)

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