Dozens Killed as New Year Celebrations Turn to Tragedy in Swiss Alps
Swiss authorities have confirmed that around 40 people have died and approximately 100 others are injured after a devastating fire ripped through a popular bar in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana. The blaze broke out in the early hours of New Year's Day, Thursday 1 January 2026, turning celebrations into a scene of horror.
The explosion and subsequent fire occurred at about 1:30am local time at Le Constellation bar, a venue packed with revellers ringing in the new year. The resort is located in the Valais region of southwestern Switzerland.
Survivors Describe 'Horror Movie' Scenes
Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of chaos and desperation. Survivors described a frantic scramble to escape, with some likening the scene to a horror film. Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they saw a male bartender lift a female colleague onto his shoulders; she was holding a lit candle in a bottle. They reported that flames then spread rapidly, causing the wooden ceiling to collapse.
One teenager, 16-year-old Axel Clavier from Paris, recounted "total chaos" inside. He told The Associated Press he hadn't seen the fire start but did witness waitresses arriving with Champagne bottles featuring sparklers. After feeling like he was suffocating, he broke a Plexiglas window with a table to escape, losing his belongings in the process. "I am still alive and it's just stuff," he said, adding he was still in shock.
Other witnesses reported seeing people smashing windows to flee, some with grave injuries, and panicked parents rushing to the scene to search for their children.
International Victims and Ongoing Response
The tragedy has an international dimension. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that 16 Italian nationals are missing and around a dozen more are being treated in hospital for severe burns. He described the situation as "chaotic."
Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited the town on Thursday afternoon, calling the incident "one of the worst tragedies the country has ever experienced." He noted that many of the victims are believed to be young people.
With many victims suffering serious burns and smoke inhalation, treatment capacity in Switzerland is under strain. Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais Canton government, indicated that some patients may need to be transferred to specialist units in neighbouring countries.
Officials have ruled out a terrorist motive, calling the incident an accident. Attorney general Beatrice Pilloud declined to confirm reports about sparklers in bottles but did confirm that the staircase and exit door were narrow, complicating the escape. No arrests have been made.
A vigil was held in Crans-Montana on Thursday as the community began to mourn one of Switzerland's deadliest fires in recent history.
