The blast occurred at Le Constellation around 1:30 am local time, when revellers had gathered to welcome the New Year.

Unverified videos circulating on social media showed the bar engulfed in flames amid the celebrations.

When asked about the number of casualties, a Swiss police representative told the BBC, “We can’t say yet. Several.”

Crans-Montana, a town in Switzerland’s Sierre district, has a population of a little over 10,000 people.