Overview
- Police reported “several dozen” fatalities and roughly 100 injured after an explosion and fire at the Le Constellation bar during a New Year’s party around 1:30 a.m.
- Officials ruled out a terrorist attack, saying the blaze triggered a deflagration rather than a bomb, as forensic teams work to establish the cause and identify victims.
- Casualty figures remain preliminary, and authorities said foreign nationals are among the dead, with identities and exact counts to be confirmed.
- A large rescue operation deployed numerous ambulances and helicopters, sealed the area, and imposed a temporary flight ban, with a special emergency status declared to mobilize resources.
- Hospitals expanded capacity and urged the public to avoid unnecessary risks, while media and eyewitness accounts pointed to possible pyrotechnics, a scenario not yet confirmed by authorities.