Authorities responded within minutes of a fire being reported at a bar in Crans-Montana, Valais Cantonal Police Commander Frédéric Gisler said at a press conference on Thursday.
Smoke was first noticed coming out of Le Constellation bar in the center of the Swiss ski resort at 1:30 a.m., Gisler said.
A few seconds later, a witness contacted the emergency call center to report the fire.
A red alert was immediately sent to mobilize the fire service, Gisler said.
The first officers from the Crans-Montana intercommunal police and the gendarmerie arrived at the scene at 1:32 a.m. and were soon supported by a “significant” response from other emergency authorities.
“Their initial assignment was obviously to take care of the victims, to provide them emergency help,” Gisler said.
The firefighters “quickly” put out the fire, he said.
“Following that, the initial investigations were able to start,” he said.
Reception centers were opened to provide care to the victims of the blaze and a helpline was set up at 4:14 a.m. to provide information and support to the affected families.
All of the injured people had received care by shortly after 5 a.m., “thanks to this widescale mobilization,” Gisler said.