Summary
- Around 40 people have been killed and 115 injured in a Swiss bar fire on New Year’s Eve, police say at a press conference
- Sixty people are receiving care at Sion hospital with more being treated elsewhere – a “significant number” are in a critical condition
- The fire started at around 01:30 local time at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, in south-west Switzerland – a local politician says the bar would have had a “young festive population”
- Swiss President Guy Parmelin says the fire is “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced”
- Some witnesses think “birthday candles” on top of a champagne bottle set fire to the ceiling – when asked by reporters the attorney general says she cannot confirm the cause
- “I managed to break a window,” says one man who escaped the bar. “Half of my clothes were gone. It was crazy”
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — At least 40 people have been killed and 115 others injured after a devastating fire swept through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The blaze broke out at around 1:30 a.m. local time at Le Constellation, a popular bar known to attract a young and international crowd. Police say around 60 injured people are currently receiving treatment at Sion hospital, with many others transferred to facilities across Switzerland and neighbouring countries. A “significant number” of victims remain in critical condition.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced,” noting that many of the victims were young people who had gathered to welcome the New Year.
Chaos and Desperation
Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames rapidly engulfed the venue. Video footage verified by Prime Africa shows fire spreading quickly through the building as revellers struggled to escape.
“I managed to break a window,” said one survivor. “Half of my clothes were gone. It was crazy.”
Another witness, 21-year-old Samuel Rapp, said the aftermath was harrowing. “There were people screaming, and then people lying on the ground, probably dead. They had jackets over their faces.”
Emergency services set up improvised triage centres in nearby buildings, including another bar and a bank branch, as ambulances and helicopters ferried the injured to hospitals and specialist burn units in Lausanne, Zurich and beyond.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The exact cause of the fire remains unclear. Some witnesses told media outlets they believed “birthday candles” or a fountain-style sparkler attached to a champagne bottle may have ignited the wooden ceiling, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Others suggested a firework may have been set off inside the bar.
However, local prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud cautioned that investigators could not yet confirm the cause, stressing it was too early to determine whether any safety failures were involved. Authorities said the fire appeared to be accidental rather than a deliberate attack.
Identification Challenges
Officials warned that confirming the final death toll and identifying victims would take time, as many bodies were badly burned. Dental and DNA records are being used in the identification process.
The tragedy has prompted an international response. Italy confirmed that six of its nationals remain missing and 13 are hospitalised. France reported eight people missing, while three survivors have already been transferred to French hospitals. Germany and Italy have also offered medical assistance.
Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais cantonal government, described the emotional toll of the disaster. “We met the families this afternoon, and it’s terrible because they are full of fear and anxiety, and we don’t yet have all the answers. Identifying victims will take time. It’s unimaginable.”
Nation in Mourning
On Thursday evening, hundreds of people gathered near the cordoned-off scene to pay their respects. Flowers and candles were laid at a makeshift memorial as crowds stood in silence in the freezing alpine night.
Crans-Montana, a luxury ski destination due to host next year’s Alpine World Ski Championships, has never experienced a disaster of this scale, Swiss officials said.
“What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond,” President Parmelin said in a message posted on X.
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