At least 40 people have been confirmed dead and another 115 injured after a fire broke out during New Year's celebrations at a bar in a popular ski resort in the canton of Valais, according to Swiss authorities.
Switzerland has sent a request for international assistance, which is now being coordinated within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Sweden announced this evening that it is ready to receive patients, according to Health Minister Elisabeth Lann.
Urgent situation
These include intensive care units for severely burned patients, expertise and medical transport capacity.
"It is an urgent situation. Many of these patients are very seriously injured and need immediate advanced care," says Lann.
Several countries, including neighboring Germany and Italy, have also offered support.
"No country can take care of so many people with severe burns alone," says Lann.
It is now up to Switzerland to choose which offers to accept.
"Distance is crucial; you don't want to transport patients unnecessarily far."
The discotheque fire
In Sweden, the University Hospital in Linköping and the Academic Hospital in Uppsala are the primary providers of the highly specialized care that is in demand.
"It is a terrible tragedy. As a Swede and as a Gothenburger, my thoughts go back to the big disco fire in Gothenburg, but here and now to the relatives and the injured," says Lann about the fire disaster.
"In this situation, it feels important that Sweden can offer support and assistance. It also shows how important it is that cooperation within the EU exists, and that it is possible to coordinate help and support quickly."
