• French president says his country is 'receiving the injured in its hospitals and stands ready to provide any assistance'

GENEVA

Belgium will take in seven patients injured in the deadly bar fire at the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana and deploy a specialized medical team to support Swiss authorities, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday.

"Belgium will act in solidarity with the Swiss authorities in activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and will offer to take in five patients with severe trauma (major burns) and two patients requiring mid-care in its hospitals," Maxime Prevot said on US social media platform X.

He added that a medical support team would be sent on Friday morning, consisting a team leader, two doctors and two nurses specializing in the treatment of major burns.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France is accepting patients,but did not specify an exact number.

In an X post, Macron expressed solidarity with Switzerland, calling the toll "terrible."

"France is receiving the injured in its hospitals and stands ready to provide any assistance," he added.

The president said diplomatic and consular teams of France are monitoring the situation and providing the necessary assistance to fellow citizens affected by this tragedy.

Earlier Thursday, Swiss police said around 40 people were killed and about 115 others injured in the fire, most of them severely, after a blaze broke out at a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations.

Authorities said a criminal investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Several hypotheses are being examined, according to prosecutors, with the currently favored theory being that of a generalized conflagration that caused a deflagration.

The identification of the victims is continuing and given the international nature of the resort, foreign nationals could be among those killed and injured, officials said.