Israel offers assistance to Switzerland in the aftermath of deadly resort blaze
40 people are believed to have been killed by a bar fire in the town of Crans-Montana on New Years Eve
The Israeli government has offered to provide disaster assistance to Switzerland in the wake of a devastating fire believed to have killed 40 and injured more than 100 in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.
President Isaac Herzog, spoke with Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, and offered help, specifically describing Israeli experience “in the fields of locating and identifying victims of fires, as well as in the treatment of burn victims in fire-related incidents”.
The work to identify those killed has begun, but only one name, that of an Italian, has yet been circulated by some media publications – but the Italian Foreign Ministry has yet to confirm the individual’s identity.
The local Chabad shliach in the town, Rabbi Yitzchak Levi Pevzner, told Israeli media that he had and other members of the Jewish community had been helping “in any way possible” at the crisis emergency centre set up in the wake of the fire. The town’s synagogue was in the same overall building complex as the bar where the fire broke out, but was not affected by the blaze. It is currently unclear whether there are Jewish people – either locals or visitors – among the dead or injured.
A local Jewish community statement said: “We pray for all the victims and stand alongside their families, offering them all the support they need during these difficult times.
“We are in direct contact with the police, and the situation is currently under control. Law enforcement authorities are conducting a full inspection of the building before authorizing access once again.”
Swiss authorities have said that they do not believe that the fire was the result of an attack of any kind. Eyewitnesses present at the bar have spoken about seeing waiters carrying champagne bottles with lit sparklers on top, suggesting that these may have come into contact with the wooden ceiling, causing the conflagration.
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