A devastating fire tore through a crowded bar in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during early New Year’s Day 2026 celebrations. The fierce blaze, which struck Le Constellation, a popular local venue, has resulted in one of the worst peacetime tragedies in Switzerland’s history.
Police confirmed that approximately 40 people were killed and a further 115 were injured, with the majority sustaining serious burns. Many of the victims were young people ringing in the new year.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, describing the incident as “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced,” noted the dreadful contrast of the disaster occurring in a place dedicated to “life and joy.”
The Scene of Chaos and Heroic Response
The blaze broke out at roughly 1:30 am local time. Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of sudden chaos, with the fire spreading rapidly, likely due to the wooden structure of the bar.
One of the first people at the scene, Leon Christe, recounted to Sky News the traumatizing sight: “It was very chaotic and very sad. Everywhere, there were young people who needed help, some had their clothes burned off.”
The sheer scale of the incident necessitated a massive emergency response. In total, 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances, 150 paramedics, and 70 firefighters were mobilized from across the region. Local hospitals, including the intensive care unit, were quickly overwhelmed, forcing authorities to transfer seriously injured patients to facilities across Switzerland, including Zurich and Lausanne, where staff noted that the most severely affected were aged 16 to 26.
Investigation Points to Pyrotechnics
Authorities have definitively ruled out any foul play, confirming that the blaze was not an attack, and no arrests have been made. The initial investigation is focused on the circumstances surrounding the fire’s rapid ignition.
Two theories have emerged, both centering on internal pyrotechnics:
- Sparkler Theory: Multiple witnesses, including two French women who escaped, told investigators the fire started when a sparkler or “birthday candle” attached to a champagne bottle was brought too close to the bar’s wooden ceiling, causing it to ignite instantly and spread.
- Firecracker Theory: Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland reported that local authorities initially suspected the fire may have been started by someone letting off a firecracker inside the venue.
Officials confirmed that the devastation was likely worsened by a flashover, a phenomenon where the fire triggers combustible gases to ignite violently, engulfing the area in seconds.
International Victims and National Mourning
Crans-Montana, situated in the Valais region near the famous Matterhorn, is a major international tourist destination. As a result, authorities anticipate that the victims will be of various nationalities.
The difficulty in identifying the deceased, many of whom sustained severe burns, means the identification process is expected to take “several days.”
Foreign governments have confirmed casualties:
- Among the injured were at least two French and a dozen Italian citizens.
- The Italian Foreign Minister also confirmed that approximately 16 Italians had been reported missing.
- The UK Embassy is monitoring the situation, though they have not yet been approached for assistance.
In a move reflecting the national shock, Switzerland announced five days of mourning for the victims, whose “young lives that were lost and interrupted” have deeply affected the entire country.