King Charles 'heartbroken' after Swiss resort NYE party tragedy
by JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR · Mail OnlineKing Charles has offered his sympathies to the 47 people killed and 115 injured after a devastating fire ripped through a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.
Emergency services were scrambled to the Alpine town of Crans-Montana after the blaze broke out inside the Constellation Bar at around 1:30am local time (12:30am GMT).
Local officials say several dozen, many of whom are understood to be foreign tourists, were killed as flames engulfed the popular tourist venue.
One politician likened the ski resort to a 'war zone' as around 100 people were injured, some with serious burns, leaving nearby hospitals at full capacity.
One European ambassador warned it will likely take weeks to identify the victims because of the damage caused by the fire.
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Video shows deadly 'flashover' fire in Swiss inferno deathtrap where at least 47 died and injured 115
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Around 47 people killed in fire described as 'one of the worst tragedies' to happen in Switzerland
Officials revealed the following information regarding the devastating Alpine at a press conference in Switzerland.
- Forty-seven people have been killed in the incident, with a further 115 injured following the fire in the basement of Le Constellation on the Crans-Montana resort, an italian source has claimed.
- Sixty individuals are currently at a hospital in Sion. Meanwhile, others have been transported to hospitals across the country.
- It is unknown how many people were at the venue during the incidents, two officials, including the attorney general, said.
- The New Year's Eve celebration was described as having a 'young festive populatoin' by a state councillor.
- None of the victims have been described as minors.
- The President of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin said the incident was 'one of the worst tragedies our country has expcerienced.'.
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Switzerland's major burns capacity too small for severity of blaze
A top official at one of Switzerland's biggest hospitals has admitted that the country has too few major burns units to deal with the sheer number of people who have suffered serious injuries.
Dr. Robert Larribau, the head of emergency care at Geneva’s University Hospital, told the New York Times that around 50 people were badly injured in the blaze.
The Daily Mail has already reported several instances of people at the club who needed to be airlifted to their home countries after suffering severe injuries.
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At least nine French citizens injured in fire
At least nine French citizens were injured in the deadly fire, while a further eight are still missing according to the country's foreign ministry.
Three victims of the blaze have been transferred to hospitals in Paris and Lyons, the ministry said adding: 'Other evacuations of injured people are underway.'
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Israel offers Switzerland assistance following club fire tragedy
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French footballer among those injured in fire
A French footballer is among the at least 115 people injured in the Swiss club fire.
Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old trainee soccer player from French club FC Metz, was 'severely burned and has been transferred by plane to Germany where he is being treated,' his club said.
It added that 'the leaders, players, coaches and employees of the club are in shock and unite their thoughts to address them to Tahirys' and thatit is working to enable the player to be repatriated to his home.
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Breaking:King Charles and Queen Camilla 'greatly saddened' by Swiss club fire
King Charles said in a statement today: 'My wife and I were appalled, and greatly saddened, to learn of the devastating fire last night in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland.
'It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy. 'While offering our admiration for the heroic first responders and the selfless emergency services, we wanted, above all, to convey our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have been so dreadfully affected by this horrific disaster.
'Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of all those who have so tragically lost their lives and with those who remain in a critical condition in hospital.'
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Three Italians evacuated to home nation following fire
Three Italian nationals hurt in the tragic Swiss nightclub fire have been evacuated to a major burns unit in Milan's Niguarda hospital.
Italian media reported that 'a young woman, not yet in her 30s, and two young boys aged 1' will be arriving in Milan this evening to be treated.
They have burns across '30-40% of their bodies' and remain intubated.
Italian councillor Guido Bertolaso added that the Lombardy region is monitoring the wellbeing of two more Italian nationals who are in hospitals in Bern and Zurich and may be evacuated soon.
'However, they are in such critical conditions that Swiss doctors have advised against evacuating them at the moment,' Bertolaso adds.
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More emotional scenes at Le Constellation
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Nearly two dozen teenagers and young adults seriously injured by fire
Local media reported that at least 22 of those who were seriously injured in the fire were between 16 and 26.
They were airlifted to the University Hospital of Lausanne, its director Claire Charmet said.
The hospital is one of just two in the country that has the facilities to treat severe burns, the other being in Zurich.
Charmet said most of the victims have burns that cover over 20% of their bodies.
She warned that their recovery will take weeks, if not months.
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