At least 10 killed in blast at Swiss ski resort town Crans Montana

GENEVA: Several people were killed and others injured after an explosion and fire at a bar in the luxury Alpine ski resort town of Crans Montana, Swiss police said early Thursday.

Citing police, Sky News reported that at least 10 people had died in the incident, with some local media saying the figure may be higher. A police spokesperson declined to confirm the number, but said many people were being treated for burns.

"There has been an explosion of unknown origin," Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesman in Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland told AFP.

"There are several injured, and several dead."

He said the explosion took place at around 1:30am (0030 GMT) in a bar called Le Constellation, which is popular with tourists, as revellers rang in the new year.

Images published by Swiss media showed a building in flames, and emergency services nearby.

"The intervention is still ongoing," he said.

A major emergency response, as reported by the BBC, is underway with area completely cordoned off and a no-fly zone in effect.

Police has told the local media that more than 100 people were present in the bar affected by the explosion.

"More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead," said police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion.

"We're just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is a internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists," reported The Guardian quoting Lathion.

This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.