In brief
Three hours after a restaurant‑apartment block in Thusis was engulfed, authorities report that five people are missing and eight more injured. Firefighters worked through the night, with the roof cut open by crane as a stairwell collapsed. The blaze is under investigation, with police sending emergency responders from Chur, Zurich and Ilanz to the scene. Residents are urged to check the area for possible embers, while missing persons are being actively searched.
A fire erupted overnight in a combined restaurant and residential building in the Swiss town of Thusis, destroying the structure and leaving chaos in its wake. The Graubünden cantonal police say five people are missing and eight others were treated for injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze started on the second floor and rapidly spread to the roof. Local residents saw semi‑decent blue‑white smoke push up the sides of the building, and smell of heavy burning food filled the night air.
Nearly 100 firefighters from the region arrived after the fire alarm was raised around 22:00 GMT. A crane was mounted on the roof to open it for access once the stairwell collapsed. First‑aid teams treated the casualties, with patients transported to hospitals in Chur, Zurich and Ilanz.
Police and the public prosecutor’s office are investigating the cause. Models suggest a possible electrical fault or an accidental flare from the kitchen, but no formal conclusion has been reached. Authorities urge residents to stay away from the area and report any signs of lingering embers.
An interactive map of the incident
view location.
As searches continue, the community watches closely. The district’s Touristic Council has expressed concerns about potential fallout on the region’s winter and summer tourism calendars.
