Poland offers medical aid for Swiss fire victims

Poland said Friday it had offered specialised medical care as overwhelmed Swiss burn units send victims of a ski resort fire at a New Year's celebration to neighbouring countries.

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Swiss police officers stand guard at the funeral home in Sion on January 2, 2026 the day after a fire that ripped through a bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026, killing around 40 people and injuring about 115 others. Investigators raced on January 2, 2026 to identify the victims of a fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, turning a New Year's celebration into one of the country's worst tragedies. Frederic Gisler, police commander in the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, told reporters that authorities had counted "around 40 people who have died and around 115 injured, most of them seriously". MAXIME SCHMID / AFP

2026-01-02 20:47:27

Poland said Friday it had offered specialised medical care as overwhelmed Swiss burn units send victims of a ski resort fire at a New Year's celebration to neighbouring countries.

"We are ready, at Switzerland's request, to provide specialized medical care to 14 injured in Polish hospitals," Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. 

"Switzerland and the canton of Valais can count on Polish solidarity," he added. 

Some 40 people were killed and around 115 injured in the blaze at a bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana.

On Thursday, patients were transferred from Switzerland to hospitals in Germany, Italy and France after emergency units at local hospitals filled up.

The Polish offer of help includes four ICU beds and 10 for patients with less severe injuries, a Polish interior ministry spokeswoman said. 

The beds are located at the southern Siemianowice Slaskie hospital, which specialises in the treatment of burns and chronic wounds. 

Poland has also proposed deploying two medics on the ground, as well as aircraft to transport the 14 injured to the Polish hospital. 

© Agence France-Presse