In a press release published on Friday 2 January, the European Commission announced the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for Switzerland. This decision follows the fire that broke out in a bar in the town of Crans-Montana on the night of 31 December, killing 40 people and injuring more than 110, according to a provisional estimate.
A total of 21 EU countries have offered to help, whether with medical care, transport or the provision of carers. Around twenty seriously injured people have already been evacuated to hospitals in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy, while specialist burns teams are currently supporting hospitals in Valais and Lausanne.
Two liaison officers have also been sent to Switzerland by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre to coordinate medical evacuations and transfers.
“We stand in full solidarity with Switzerland”, declared the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, providing assurances that the EU would continue to provide assistance “for as long as necessary”. (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)