🔗 Share this article Australian Counted Among the Injured in New Year’s Eve Fire That Claimed the Lives of 40 in Swiss Alpine Resort An Australian national is counted among the 115 individuals wounded in a fire that tore through a busy tavern during a end-of-year festivities in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing 40 people. Ministerial Statement on Australian Injured Person Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, stated early Friday that an Australian citizen was among the injured and was getting both hospital treatment and embassy aid. “It’s clearly a terrible, terrible tragedy and I am confident every Australian extends their sympathies to the nation of Switzerland, the people involved,” Bowen told ABC RN radio. He added, “I am able to verify an Australian was hurt and is receiving medical care and the relatives are getting help, assistance from the Australian embassy. I am unable to provide more specifics for reasons of personal privacy. The individual's name is being withheld at this point.” Diplomatic Assistance and Continued Efforts The nation's foreign affairs department confirmed on Friday morning it was providing consular assistance to the affected individual and their relatives. A department representative said: “DFAT is currently offering consular support to the relatives of an Australian national that has been hurt and is undergoing treatment following the fire. Because of our privacy commitments we are unable to provide further comment.” The official continued, “The department is pursuing immediate inquiries with local authorities to establish if any other Australians were impacted. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.” Scope of Consular Assistance Such support may involve: Communicating with or visiting local hospitals. Working with officials on site. Provision of lists of medical providers. Support for reaching out to next of kin. Circumstances Surrounding the Tragic Fire Local police reported the blaze began around 1:30 a.m., local time, in a tavern favored by holidaymakers called Le Constellation, which is found in the downtown area of the resort in Valais. Video of the incident shows orange flames billowing from inside the first-floor establishment. Shouts and loud tunes are discernible, and multiple persons were witnessed lying outside the building. Certain victims in the inferno remain unidentified yet due to the seriousness of the burns. Investigation into the Blaze's Cause Swiss police said arson was not responsible for the blaze, which is thought to be the consequence of an unintentional act. Advice for Worried Relatives Australian nationals worried about relatives who might have been involved in the fire were advised to call the DFAT round-the-clock consular emergency line on 1300-555-135.