Berlin, 1 Jan

At least 40 people died and about 100 were injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort town during a New Year's celebration, police said on Thursday.

The blaze occurred in the Alpine ski resort municipality of Crans-Montana, a popular tourist destination in Switzerland. Authorities said the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning while the venue was packed with revellers welcoming the new year.

“The fire started around 1:30 am this morning in a bar called Le Constellation," police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion said. "More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead.”

Emergency services rushed to the scene, and a reception centre and helpline were established to assist families of those affected, Lathion said.

“We're just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists," he added.

Police said a news conference was scheduled for 10 am in Crans-Montana, located about 40 kilometres north of the Matterhorn.