Switzerland’s State Council has declared a state of emergency, according to Swiss media.
A press release from the Presidium of the State Council, seen by Swiss daily Blick, said the decision has been made to “mobilise all necessary resources immediately over the next few days”.
The State Council expressed its “deep solidarity” with those affected and extended its thoughts to the victims, their families, and all other affected parties.
“Given the seriousness of the situation and the events of last night, the State Council decided this morning to declare a special situation, as permitted by the Law on the Protection of the Population,” Stephane Ganzer, state councillor of Valais, told the news conference.
“This legal provision allows us to coordinate the various resources – massive resources – and to defer them over time, since we are facing an event that will mobilise several coordinating forces and that will last for a long time.”
“We also have an international aspect that will open up. In a station on New Year’s Eve, some of the victims are obviously from different countries, which will raise diplomatic issues.”
