Khaberni - Police said that about 40 people were killed and 115 others injured in the fire that broke out in a pub in the Swiss Alps, late on Wednesday evening during the New Year’s celebrations.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin said the incident is one of the worst disasters the country has seen throughout its history.
A member of the Valais state council in Switzerland reported that the deadly fire was the result of what eyewitnesses described as a fire that led to an explosion.
Stefan Ganzer, along with other officials, during a press conference on Thursday morning, said: "Witness testimonies and investigations indicate that the fire caused the air inside the venue to ignite".
Ganzer explained: "The fire spread, and as it developed, caused a large-scale explosion".
Swiss authorities have said the fire is being treated as an accidental incident, not a terrorist attack.
Prosecutor Beatrice Belloud confirmed that at this stage there are no indications of any kind of terrorist attack, noting that she will be in direct contact with the families of the victims.
Police said that about 100 people were inside the pub when the fire broke out, noting that the area is closed to the public.
