Zurich, Jan 3 (NationPress) Approximately 40 individuals are feared dead following a devastating bar fire in the southwestern region of Switzerland, with the number of injured escalating to 119, according to police statements made during a press briefing.

Authorities have confirmed the identities of 113 of the injured. However, several European nations have reported missing citizens in connection with the fire, which ignited overnight at "Le Constellation" bar located within the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton.

Swiss officials have indicated that the death toll is anticipated to increase in the upcoming days.

Regional health and safety official Stephane Ganzer informed the French radio station RTL that between 80 to 100 of the injured are in critical condition, with many facing severe burn injuries that could prove fatal.

The fire alarm was triggered at around 1:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, just moments after the fire began. Local police reported that a total of 41 ambulances, 13 helicopters, and over 150 medical personnel were dispatched to the site.

A perimeter of 100 meters around the bar was secured. Mourners gathered near the police cordon, embracing each other in grief, as flowers and candles were placed in memory of the victims, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.

A young Swiss man, Nathan, visibly affected, recounted to Xinhua that he lost four friends in the blaze. "Three are still missing," he lamented, "I have no idea where they are being treated. It’s profoundly tragic… I never had the chance to say my goodbyes to them."

Seventeen-year-old Anthony Cina, on vacation from the Canton of Vaud, shared with Xinhua that he was unable to enter the bar that night as it was at full capacity. While waiting in line with friends, he noticed smoke and then flames. "I saw numerous individuals fleeing, many were burned, and the entire scene was shocking," he described.

During a press conference on Thursday, Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, characterized the incident as one of the gravest tragedies in Switzerland’s history. Parmelin, who has just assumed his second presidential term, had postponed his New Year's address.

"The government extends its condolences to all affected families," Parmelin stated.

Flags at the Federal Palace will remain at half-mast for five days, he noted, emphasizing the necessity to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The majority of the deceased and injured were young individuals, as Le Constellation served as a more economical choice compared to other establishments in the upscale resort.

The injured were initially transported to hospitals in Sion, the capital of Valais Canton, as well as Lausanne, Zurich, and Geneva. Some individuals were later transferred to foreign hospitals.

As reported by Italian authorities, 13 Italian nationals were admitted to hospitals, with six still unaccounted for.

At Switzerland's request, 14 injured individuals are being transported to Polish hospitals, as announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X, stating that Poland is prepared to offer specialized medical treatment.

Additionally, three injured persons, including two French nationals and one Swiss, were moved to hospitals in Lyon and Paris, according to French officials.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that at least six French nationals sustained injuries, while eight others remain "unaccounted for."

Swiss media has reported that the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, has lowered the Swiss flag to half-mast as a mark of solidarity and mourning, expressing condolences to all those impacted.

Following the incident, video footage surfaced online, depicting bar staff holding lit sparklers attached to bottles near the ceiling, where flames later erupted.

The authorities in Valais reported on Thursday that the bar experienced a "flashover"—a phenomenon where flammable materials rapidly ignite, escalating a localized fire into a full-blown conflagration.

During a press briefing on Friday afternoon, Beatrice Pilloud, Attorney General of Valais Canton, stated that the sparklers on the champagne bottles are suspected to be one of the fire's causes.

Pilloud indicated that preliminary evidence collected at the site suggests the sparklers may have ignited the fire, with concerns also raised regarding the foam material used on the bar's ceiling. "We are exploring multiple hypotheses; no scenario is being dismissed," she remarked.

The exact number of individuals present in the bar during the incident remains unknown. Local authorities noted that identifying all individuals will require time, but prioritizing the identification of the deceased is crucial.

On Friday, Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais government, announced a memorial service will take place in Crans-Montana on Jan. 9. "It will serve as an opportunity for us to unite in remembrance of the victims and demonstrate national solidarity," he stated.