A devastating fire at a nightclub in the upmarket Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left around 40 people dead and approximately 100 injured, casting a shadow over New Year's Eve celebrations. The deadly incident occurred in the early hours of 1 January 2026, sending revellers fleeing into the Alpine night.
Panic in the Darkness: The Moment the Inferno Erupted
The blast ripped through the Constellation Bar in the centre of Crans-Montana at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT). Chilling footage captured by a tourist from New York shows bright orange flames pouring from the building as dozens of people sprinted away. The video's audio is filled with the piercing sound of screams and yelling as survivors dashed from the blaze.
Initial witness accounts suggest the fire started in the basement of the bar. One woman described a waiter, dancing on a colleague's shoulders, holding a sparkler or birthday candle too close to the ceiling, which then caught fire "in a couple of minutes." Another witness, Emma, told French channel BFM that the blaze seemed to ignite after celebrations with champagne bottles containing candles. "Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds," she said.
A Desperate Crush and Overwhelmed Hospitals
The escape was severely hampered by the layout of the venue. Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the fire "started in the basement" and that a crush ensued as people tried to flee via a single, narrow staircase. A survivor recounted, "The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time."
Emergency services faced a scene of chaos. A doctor with the Swiss air ambulance service told local media that hospitals were "overwhelmed with burn victims." Police described a "major emergency response" involving a large contingent of officers, firefighters, and rescue workers. A no-fly zone was established over the resort, and the area remains cordoned off.
International Victims and Ongoing Response
Local officials confirmed that foreign tourists are among the victims. The luxury resort of Crans-Montana, located about two hours from Bern, is popular with international visitors, including British tourists. The UK Embassy in Berne stated that while it had not yet been approached for assistance, "nationals from multiple countries" were likely impacted and that staff stood ready to support British nationals.
Police spokesman Gaetan Lathion said the explosion was of "unknown origin," noting that reports suggesting fireworks as a cause were yet to be confirmed. The investigation is ongoing as rescue operations continue. The mood in the town shifted abruptly from celebration to horror. A nearby resident told Lausanne's 24 heures newspaper, "We could hear the sirens in the distance. Around me, people were stunned, worried, silent."
