In a message posted on the social media platform X on Thursday, the Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist) announced that Belgium will provide assistance to Switzerland following the fire that broke out on New Year's Eve in a crowded bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. It is currently believed that no Belgians died in the blaze that killed 40 people and injured around 115 others. The Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) says that Belgium has the expertise and hospitals that are specialist in the treatment of severe burns.
Belgium offers assistance to Switzerland following the devastating fire at a bar in Crans-Montana
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In his statement, the Belgian Foreign Minister said that "Belgium will act in solidarity with the Swiss authorities by activating the European Union's civil protection mechanism and will offer to take in five patients with severe trauma (major burns) at our hospitals as well as 2 patients requiring mid-care. Belgium will send a medical support team on Friday morning. This team will consist of a team leader, two doctors and two nurses that are specialised in severe burns."
On Thursday the Belgian Foreign Ministry said that no Belgian nationals had been identified among the victims, adding that it was monitoring the situation closely together with the Belgian Embassy in the Swiss capital Bern.
“Based on the information available at this time, which is not yet definitive, there appear to be no Belgian victims, but it cannot yet be ruled out that this may be the case”, the Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot wrote on the social media platform X.
The Foreign Ministry adds that in the event that any Belgian nationals are impacted by the disaster and need assistance they can contact the Belgian Embassy in Bern.
“Expertise in treating severe burns”
Speaking about Belgium’s offer of assistance to the Swiss, the Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) said that “In such catastrophic circumstances, international solidarity is essential”. Belgium is offering to take in 7 of those injured in the fire. In addition to this a team specialised in the treatment of severe burns set off for Switzerland on Friday morning.
Mr Vandenbroucke also highlighted Belgium's solid expertise in treating severe burns. “A disaster of this magnitude, with so many severe burns victims, cannot be managed by one country alone. It is important that other countries also intervene. This is truly a time to show solidarity”. Some of the injured have already been sent to hospitals in Milan, Paris, Lyon and Stuttgart.
Antwerp’s ZAS hospital has 2 beds for Swiss fire disaster victims
The burns unit at the Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom (ZAS) hospital in Antwerp is preparing to admit two victims of the Swiss fire disaster.
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De Ochtend’, the hospital’s Lieve De Cuyper said that ZAS has 2 beds available for those injured in the fire. However, It is not yet known if any patients will be brought to Antwerp from Switzerland.
Dr De Cuyper added that Belgium has considerable expertise in the treatment of severe burns victims. “In Belgium, we dealt with the Ghislenghien gas explosion in 2004 and the Switel fire in Antwerp in 1994. We are also used to receiving foreign burns victims”.