Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.

Swiss police believe around 40 people died and 100 were injured in a fire during a New Year's Eve party in the resort town of Crans-Montana, the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that the blaze was not thought to have been caused by arson. The victims could not be immediately identified because of the severity of their burns, the ministry added.

The blast broke out at about 01:30 local time at a bar called Le Constellation in the upscale resort in Switzerland’s Valais canton.

Emergency services said many of those injured suffered severe burns.

Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais cantonal government, said most casualties were in serious condition and that intensive care units at local hospitals were full, with patients being transferred to other facilities.

Stephane Ganzer, Valais’ head of security, said some of the victims were foreign nationals. Authorities mobilised 10 helicopters and around 40 ambulances to respond to the incident.

The area around the resort was sealed off, and a temporary no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana, police said. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.

Investigations are continuing.

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