Deadly Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar Kills Dozens During New Year’s Eve Celebrations

About 40 people are feared dead and more than 100 injured after a fire broke out during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. The blaze, believed to have been accidental, triggered panic as partygoers tried to escape, with many suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation. Authorities have launched a full investigation while victims are being treated in hospitals across Switzerland, raising concerns about safety at the popular tourist venue.

About 40 people are feared to have lost their lives and more than 100 others injured after a devastating fire swept through a packed bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana, according to Italy’s foreign ministry.
Swiss police confirmed that several dozen partygoers had died in the blaze. Authorities said the victims could not be immediately identified because many suffered severe burns. Officials ruled out arson, stating that the fire was most likely accidental.
“There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” Gaëtan Lathion, a police spokesperson in the canton of Valais in south-west Switzerland, told Agence France-Presse. “There are several injured and several dead.”
The fire reportedly broke out at around 1.30am local time (0030 GMT) at Le Constellation, a popular bar among tourists, as revellers gathered to usher in the new year. Lathion said more than 100 people were inside the building at the time. “We are seeing many injured and many dead,” he said.
Video footage from the scene showed intense orange flames billowing from the ground-floor bar and lounge area. Screams could be heard over loud music as panic spread. Several people were seen collapsed outside the building, which is located in the heart of the Valais resort.
Two women who spoke to French broadcaster BFMTV said they were inside Le Constellation when they witnessed a bartender carrying a female staff member on his shoulders. The woman was holding a lit candle placed inside a champagne bottle, which they said ignited the wooden ceiling. The fire spread rapidly, causing the ceiling to collapse. A photograph later circulated showing a woman dressed in black in the basement of the bar holding a large champagne bottle, with a white flame visible at its top.
One of the women described scenes of chaos as a crowd surged toward the exits, with people desperately trying to escape from the basement nightclub through a narrow staircase and a small door.
Another witness told BFMTV that partygoers smashed windows to flee the fire, while others emerged gravely injured. He described parents rushing to the scene in cars, frantic to find out whether their children were trapped inside. The witness said he saw about 20 people scrambling to escape through smoke and flames, comparing the scene to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.
By morning, the scale of the tragedy was evident. Two women were seen embracing and crying in front of a police cordon outside Le Constellation as mourners laid flowers nearby. The club, which was frequented by young people and tourists, was surrounded by police tents.
Shortly before 1pm, a Swiss police forensics team entered the tents to begin detailed investigations. Behind the bar, an apartment block also named Le Constellation had several shattered windows where firefighters had attempted to release smoke from the building.
Crans-Montana is a vibrant Alpine resort town with a population of about 10,000, perched high in the Valais canton with views stretching across the valley toward the iconic Matterhorn mountain. Unlike nearby Verbier, which is known for attracting a wealthy English-speaking crowd, Crans-Montana is popular mainly with affluent European visitors.
Le Constellation itself, however, was known as a more affordable and casual venue that attracted younger crowds and tourists.
Ulysse Brozzo, a 16-year-old instructor at the ESS ski school, said several of his friends were inside the club when the fire started. He said he had managed to contact some who were safe but had yet to hear from others. One acquaintance was reportedly in a coma at Sion hospital. “It’s a total tragedy,” he said. “There were hundreds of people inside.”
Brozzo explained that the venue was spread over two levels, with a bar on the main floor and narrow stairs leading to a basement nightclub. He suggested that people may have become trapped downstairs and overwhelmed by smoke. He also noted that shisha pipes were available in the club. “What people are saying is that the charcoal from the shisha could have spilled and caused the fire,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais canton, said what should have been a moment of celebration had “turned into a nightmare.”
Police commander Frédéric Gisler said authorities were dealing with “several dozen fatalities” and described the incident as deeply shocking. “I can’t hide from you that we are all shaken by what happened overnight in Crans,” he said. “Our count is about 100 injured, most seriously, and unfortunately tens of people are presumed dead.”
He added that injured victims had been taken to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich.
Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said investigators were treating the incident strictly as a fire and were not considering it an attack. She confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. “A lot of resources have been put into forensics to identify the victims. These resources are intended to allow us to get the bodies to the families as soon as possible,” she said.
Stéphane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton, said some of the victims were foreign nationals.
At Lausanne University Hospital, 22 injured patients aged between 16 and 26 were being treated. The hospital’s general manager, Claire Charmet, said eight of them had been resuscitated upon arrival and were now receiving critical and specialised care. “This will be a long and intensive process, lasting several weeks, perhaps even months,” she said.
Authorities have set up a reception centre and helpline for affected families. Lathion said investigators were still at an early stage, noting that Crans-Montana is an internationally renowned ski resort that attracts visitors from around the world.
French media reported that Le Constellation opened in 2015 and could accommodate up to 300 people indoors, with an additional 40 on a heated terrace. The bar’s Facebook and Instagram pages appear to have been deleted. Its owners are reportedly a French couple originally from Corsica.
A shop owner whose boutique sits directly opposite the bar said Le Constellation was a popular destination for young people, including teenagers, and that New Year’s Eve parties were often less strict about age checks. Another 17-year-old ski instructor, François, said he had often partied at the bar and described it as a familiar gathering spot for local youth.
The town of Crans-Montana relies heavily on tourism, welcoming a largely European clientele who come to ski, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants and shop at luxury boutiques. The tragedy has cast a dark shadow over what is usually a festive and bustling winter season in the resort.