Skip to content

Five missing after fire in Swiss Alpine town

Ben Hatton
News imageGraubünden cantonal police Large flames come out of the windows in the top floor of a building at night.Graubünden cantonal police

Five people are missing and eight others injured after a restaurant with apartments was "completely destroyed" by fire in the Swiss town of Thusis, police have said.

Initial investigations indicate the blaze broke out on the second floor and the cause was still being investigated, according to the Graubünden cantonal police.

The force said it was called just after midnight local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday) and that nearly 100 firefighters responded. The roof had to be opened using a crane after the stairwell collapsed.

The Alpine Graubünden region, also known as Grisons, is a popular holiday destination for both winter sports and summer nature activities in eastern Switzerland.

News imageGraubünden cantonal police The building as seen from the air - it is next to a river. Smoke rises from the building at night, while at least five fire engines are parked nearby and on the bridge over the river.Graubünden cantonal police

Fourteen people escaped the building, police said, of whom two were seriously injured, two suffered moderate injuries and four suffered minor injuries.

People were taken to hospitals in neighbouring Chur, Thusis, Ilanz and Zurich, it added.

Police and the public prosecutor's office are investigating the cause of the fire.

News imageGraubünden cantonal police The building as seen from a bridge crossing a river. Three streams of water from firefighting crews douse the building. Smoke rises from the building - at night. Graubünden cantonal police
News imageA map of Switzerland showing the locations of Thusis, Zurich and Geneva