NEED TO KNOW
- A French soccer player was among those injured in a deadly fire that broke out at a bar in a Swiss ski resort
- French soccer club FC Metz confirmed that Tahirys Dos Santos was among those injured in the fire at Le Constellation bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations
- PEOPLE previously reported that local authorities confirmed that “around 40 people died and at least 115 have been injured” after the fire
A French soccer player was among those injured in a deadly fire that broke out at a bar in a Swiss ski resort during the early hours of New Year’s Day.
French soccer club FC Metz issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 1, confirming that Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old trainee soccer player from their club, was among those injured in the fire at Le Constellation bar earlier that day.
According to a statement obtained by CNN, Dos Santos was “severely burned and has been transferred by plane to Germany where he is being treated.”
FC Metz added that “the leaders, players, coaches and employees of the club are in shock and unite their thoughts to address them to Tahirys.”
PEOPLE previously reported that “around 40 people died and at least 115 have been injured,” many “severely,” police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a press conference on Thursday.
The fire occurred during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. More than 100 were also injured in the incident.
Tahirys Dos Santos/Instagram
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud was asked if champagne bottles with flares on them were used in the bar, though Pilloud said officials were not confirming anything at this time. The favored theory for now is that a “general fire” caused the “conflagration.”
Pilloud said authorities do not have a suspect and have not made any arrests.
MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty
Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, was also in attendance at the press conference.
He said the fire is “a drama of unknown scale,” according to an English translation, adding that the authorities are carrying out an investigation to determine what happened.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Parmelin shared, “What was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, felt across the country and beyond. The Federal Council has taken note of this with deep dismay. Its thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families and it extends its deepest condolences.”
In an earlier, translated news release, the Cantonal Police of Valais said that “a serious incident occurred at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana” at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time.
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The authorities said that “a fire of undetermined origin” had broken out at the bar, adding that a large amount of police, firefighters and rescue personnel “immediately responded to the scene” to help the victims.
Police had previously said that there was no suggestion that the incident was a terrorist attack, The Guardian reported. During a press conference earlier Thursday, the authorities also confirmed that it wasn’t an “explosive device” that had caused the fire.
The Cantonal Police of Valais did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information on Thursday.
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