A fire that swept through an apartment building in the eastern Swiss town of Thusis early Friday has left five people unaccounted for and eight others injured, according to local police.
The blaze, reported shortly after midnight, "entirely burned" a structure that contained both a restaurant and residential apartments, authorities in the canton of Graubünden said in a statement. Firefighters faced a challenging operation as the building's stairwell collapsed, forcing crews to use a crane to open the roof to access the upper floors.
Two of the injured are in serious condition, police confirmed. Six other residents managed to escape the building without physical harm.
Massive firefighting response
Around 100 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, and crews were still working to extinguish the blaze on Friday morning. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is underway.
Thusis, a municipality in the Hinterrhein valley, is known for its proximity to the Viamala Gorge and the San Bernardino Pass. The town, with a population of roughly 3,000, is a gateway to several Alpine resorts and has a mix of historic and modern buildings.
The incident has shaken the local community. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," said a spokesperson for the Graubünden cantonal police, adding that psychological support has been offered to survivors and witnesses.
Switzerland has seen a series of tragic incidents in recent months, from a village threatened by a collapsing peak to the discovery of Belgian climbers' remains after 34 years. The country's rigorous building codes are designed to prevent such disasters, but older structures can still pose risks.
Local authorities have urged anyone with information about the fire to come forward. The search for the missing continues, with rescue teams using thermal imaging and sniffer dogs to comb through the debris.
This tragedy highlights the dangers that can arise even in well-regulated environments. As the investigation proceeds, questions will likely be raised about fire safety measures in similar mixed-use buildings across Switzerland.
