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An Australian is among the 115 individuals wounded in a inferno that engulfed a crowded bar during a NYE celebration in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana, which resulted in 40 fatalities.

Government Confirmation on Australian Injured Person

A senior Australian government minister, Chris Bowen, confirmed on Friday morning that an Australian national was hurt and was receiving medical and consular assistance.

“It’s clearly a terrible, terrible tragedy and I’m sure all Australians send their condolences to the Swiss people, the people involved,” the minister said during ABC RN radio.

He continued, “I am able to verify an Australian was hurt and is getting medical attention and the relatives are getting help, Australian consular support. I can’t go into any further details for reasons of personal privacy. The person's identity is not being disclosed at this point.”

Diplomatic Assistance and Continued Efforts

The Australian DFAT verified early Friday it was offering diplomatic support to the injured person and their family.

A foreign affairs official said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) is providing consular assistance to the family members of an Australian citizen that has been hurt and is undergoing treatment following the fire. Because of our privacy commitments we are not in a position to give more details.”

The spokesperson added, “Dfat is making urgent inquiries with Swiss officials to determine whether any other Australians were impacted. Our team is ready to give consular help.”

Nature of Diplomatic Support

Diplomatic aid often encompasses:

• Contacting or going to hospitals in the area.
• Liaising with local authorities.
• Supplying details of healthcare professionals.
• Support for reaching out to next of kin.

Circumstances Surrounding the Blaze

Local police reported the blaze began around 1:30 a.m., local time, in a bar popular with tourists called Le Constellation, which is located in the centre of the alpine resort.

Recordings of the tragedy shows orange flames billowing from inside the ground-floor bar and lounge. Shouts and loud tunes are discernible, and a number of individuals were observed fallen outside the building.

A number of those who perished in the inferno remain unidentified yet due to the extent of their injuries.

Investigation into the Fire's Origin

Authorities confirmed arson was not responsible for the blaze, which is thought to be the outcome of a mishap.

Information for Concerned Australians

Citizens anxious regarding relatives who might have been involved in the fire were told to phone Dfat’s 24/7 consular emergency support line on 1300 555 135.