Disaster
Israel Offers Assistance to Switzerland After NYE Fire
President Isaac Herzog spoke with Swiss President Guy Parmelin on Thursday, expressing condolences on behalf of the Israeli people and offering support based on Israel’s experience in disaster response and burn treatment. According to Herzog’s office, the offer reflects expertise developed over many years and intensified since the October 7 attacks.
Israel has offered emergency assistance to Switzerland following a deadly fire that killed dozens during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a ski resort in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.
President Isaac Herzog spoke with Swiss President Guy Parmelin on Thursday, expressing condolences on behalf of the Israeli people and offering support based on Israel’s experience in disaster response and burn treatment. According to Herzog’s office, the offer reflects expertise developed over many years and intensified since the October 7 attacks.
Swiss authorities said the blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday at a crowded bar hosting a New Year’s celebration, killing around 40 people and injuring more than 100. Valais canton officials stressed that it is too early to determine the cause of the fire and said there is no indication of an attack. Investigators have not yet been able to enter the damaged structure safely.
A senior Swiss prosecutor said an investigation has been opened to clarify the circumstances of the incident, but no arrests have been made. Police confirmed that identifying victims and notifying families could take several days.
An Israeli emergency response organization, ZAKA, has dispatched a team from its international unit to assist with recovery and identification efforts. Hebrew media reported that three Jewish individuals are among those still listed as missing, while the Chabad movement said several members of the local Jewish community were injured. There are no reports of Israeli citizens among the casualties.
Swiss officials said assistance is also being provided by emergency teams from neighboring countries, including France and Italy. Switzerland has declared several days of mourning as communities gathered for vigils near the site, laying flowers and candles in memory of the victims.
Regional authorities described the incident as one of the country’s worst peacetime tragedies in recent years, noting that what was meant to be a night of celebration turned into a devastating disaster.