Around 40 Killed, More Than 100 Injured in New Year’s Eve Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar

Crans-Montana, Switzerland — Around 40 people were killed and at least 115 others seriously injured after a devastating fire tore through a packed bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a Swiss ski resort early Thursday morning, authorities said.

The blaze broke out at around 1:30 a.m. on January 1 inside Le Constellation, a popular bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana in southern Switzerland. Valais cantonal police described the incident as one of the deadliest fires in the country’s recent history.

“This is one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced,” Swiss President Guy Parmelin said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. He noted that many of the victims were young people and expressed condolences to families affected by the disaster.

Frédéric Gisler, police commander for the canton of Valais, confirmed the toll. “Around 40 people have died and 115 are injured, many severely,” he told reporters. He said the immediate priority is identifying the victims so their bodies can be returned to families as quickly as possible.

The injured were transported to hospitals across Switzerland, including facilities in Sion, Lausanne, Bern, Geneva and Zurich. Officials said around 60 people are being treated in Sion, 22 in Lausanne, and more than a dozen burn victims have been admitted to hospitals in Zurich. Neighboring countries including France, Germany and Italy have offered to take in patients suffering from severe burns.

Authorities believe the victims may be of multiple nationalities, as Crans-Montana is a major international tourist destination during the winter ski season. Police said they are in constant contact with families and are providing updates as information becomes available.

Investigation Underway

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Initial reports suggested an explosion, but officials now believe the incident was accidental rather than a deliberate attack.

Valais prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud said investigators are examining several possible causes. “There are several hypotheses,” she said, adding that the leading theory at this stage is a general fire that rapidly developed into a major conflagration.

Witnesses have been interviewed, and mobile phones recovered from the scene will be analyzed. Switzerland’s forensic institute in Zurich has been tasked with determining the origin and cause of the blaze, though authorities cautioned that identifying all victims and reconstructing events will take time.

Witness Accounts

Le Constellation, which has operated for several years, can reportedly accommodate up to 300 people. It was heavily crowded at the time of the fire, though officials have not confirmed how many patrons were inside.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as smoke filled the building. One survivor told AFP he was trapped inside and had to break a window to escape.

“We couldn’t see because of the smoke. We didn’t know how we were going to get out,” he said. “I managed to break a window and get out… half of my clothes were gone.”

The witness said he had been in the basement with friends when the fire broke out and claimed the flames spread suddenly. He alleged that waitstaff had been moving through the bar with champagne bottles fitted with flares shortly before the fire started, but authorities said they cannot confirm these details while the investigation is ongoing.

Emergency Response and Shocked Community

The Valais government declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources quickly. Emergency services responded in large numbers, deploying 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances and three disaster-response vehicles. A no-fly zone was imposed over Crans-Montana, and the area surrounding the bar remains sealed off.

“People here are in total shock,” said Swiss public broadcaster SRF reporter Anna-Lisa Achtermann, reporting from the resort. She said the bar was especially popular with people aged 16 to 25 and that many victims are believed to be tourists.

A helpline has been established for families seeking information: +41 84 811 21 17.

International Condolences

Messages of sympathy and support poured in from around the world. President Parmelin thanked neighboring countries for offering medical assistance and said Swiss flags will fly at half-mast in Bern for five days.

“This tragedy of such a scale must never happen again,” he said.

The British Foreign Office, the U.S. Embassy in Bern, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani all expressed condolences and solidarity with Switzerland, while offering consular assistance to their nationals who may have been affected.

As investigations continue, Switzerland is mourning a tragedy that has cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be a night of celebration.