By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - Belgium will take in seven patients injured in the deadly bar fire at the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana and deploy a specialized medical team to support Swiss authorities, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday.
"Belgium will act in solidarity with the Swiss authorities in activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and will offer to take in five patients with severe trauma (major burns) and two patients requiring mid-care in its hospitals," Maxime Prevot said on US social media platform X.
He added that a medical support team would be sent on Friday morning, consisting a team leader, two doctors and two nurses specializing in the treatment of major burns.
Earlier Thursday, Swiss police said around 40 people were killed and about 115 others injured in the fire, most of them severely, after a blaze broke out at a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations.
Authorities said a criminal investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Several hypotheses are being examined, according to prosecutors, with the currently favored theory being that of a generalized conflagration that caused a deflagration.
The identification of the victims is continuing and given the international nature of the resort, foreign nationals could be among those killed and injured, officials said.