Terry Schultz

Judicial Police Chief Colonel Pierre-Antoine Lengen said the process of identification has been very difficult.

It requires being extremely meticulous, he said.

We cannot afford to make mistakes in this area, even though we know that waiting, it's extremely difficult to live with.

Victims come from many different countries, including Australia, France and Italy.

Some of Switzerland's neighbours have offered to take in burn victims for treatment.

For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

Eyewitness accounts and photos from the scene suggest the ceiling in the bar in Kronmontana, Switzerland, caught fire from lit sparklers being held high by those celebrating the new year.

Outside the site of the tragedy, flowers and candles have been left in memory of the victims.

many of whom are believed to have been young people.

Investigators say the extent of the burns suffered by victims will slow the identification process.

Swiss authorities say the fire broke out in a bar at the Crowne Montana ski resort in the heart of the Swiss Alps about 1.30 a.m.

during New Year's Eve festivities.

Victims are believed to be from several different countries.

In a press conference, officials downplayed early reports that an explosion had caused the tragedy and said it's too early to conclude whether appropriate fire safety measures were in place.

Firefighters and first responders were called in from around the region.

Local hospitals are completely full, authorities say, and patients are being transferred to nearby facilities.

They're appealing to everyone in the area to be particularly careful to avoid accidents that would put more strain on medical and emergency services.

For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

Swiss authorities say the fire broke out in a bar in the Creme Montana ski resort around 1.30 a.m.

They won't speculate on what caused the high death toll.