New Year party turns tragic as fire kills around 40 at Swiss ski resort bar

New Year celebrations turned tragic at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort after a massive bar fire killed around 40 people and injured over 100. Authorities ruled out an attack as investigations continue into the deadly blaze.

WEBDESK – MediaBites – January 2, 2026

Switzerland: New Year celebrations at a luxury ski resort in southern Switzerland ended in tragedy after a massive fire tore through a crowded bar early Thursday, killing around 40 people and injuring at least 115 others, many of them critically, police said.

The blaze broke out at about 1:30 a.m. local time during New Year festivities at Le Constellation, a popular bar in the Crans-Montana resort in the Valais region. Authorities said the fire spread rapidly across the ceiling, triggering what investigators believe was a deadly “flashover” effect that engulfed the venue within seconds.

Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler said victims included people from multiple countries and that identifying the dead remained the top priority. “Our focus is to identify the victims so their bodies can be returned to their families as quickly as possible,” he told reporters.

Emergency services launched a large-scale overnight response, deploying 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances and about 150 first responders. Many of the injured suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. Sixty victims were taken to Sion hospital, while others were transferred to specialist burn units in Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva.

Doctors said some patients had third-degree burns and internal injuries caused by toxic smoke. Several of the most seriously injured were aged between 15 and 25, officials said.

Authorities have ruled out any deliberate attack. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said multiple hypotheses were being examined but stressed that the incident appeared to be a general fire rather than an explosion. Reports suggesting flares or champagne bottles as a cause could not yet be confirmed.

Foreign ministries across Europe reported missing and injured nationals, underlining the international nature of the tragedy at the popular Alpine resort. A helpline has been set up for families seeking information about loved ones.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies Switzerland has experienced in recent years. Leaders across Europe, including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, expressed condolences and pledged support.

Local residents and visitors gathered for a vigil near the bar on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of the victims. Once a symbol of celebration, the New Year’s Eve party has now become a moment of collective mourning in one of Switzerland’s most famous ski destinations.