The message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that “on behalf of the Panamanian people and government, we extend our most sincere condolences to the Government and people of the Swiss Confederation, as well as our solidarity and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and all those affected by this tragic event.”

The official statement also expressed that the Central American nation stands with Switzerland in this moment of “grief and reiterates its support in the face of such an irreparable loss.”

The blaze, which engulfed a bar packed with people on New Year’s Eve in the canton of Valais, is considered one of the worst tragedies in the history of the European country.

The prosecutor’s office is investigating several hypotheses, but the leading one is that the hall caught fire, causing an explosion.

The theory of an attack appears to have been ruled out, with reports pointing to an accident related to the celebrations, in which most of the injured remain in critical condition.

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