Around 40 people have died after a fire broke out at a bar in the southern Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations, police said. Authorities said 115 people were injured, with many suffering severe injuries.
The fire started at approximately 01:30 local time at Le Constellation bar. Officials investigating the incident have not confirmed the cause but ruled out an attack. People from multiple countries were affected.
Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler said the immediate priority is to identify the deceased so that bodies can be returned to families quickly.
Thirteen helicopters, 42 ambulances, and 150 emergency responders were deployed to the Valais region, which is popular with tourists. Most of the injured suffered burns, with 60 being sent to Sion hospital, several in critical condition, according to Regional governor Mathias Reynard. He said the local intensive care unit was at full capacity and asked the community to avoid unnecessary hospital visits.
Reynard added, “We are painfully aware that identifying the bodies, as well as the injured, may still take a terribly long time for the families involved.” Some patients were transferred to hospitals in Lausanne, Zurich, and Geneva, where specialist burns units treated them. Dr. Robert Larribau said some victims were aged between 15 and 25 and suffered severe third-degree burns, with internal burns from inhaling smoke.
The incident affected foreign nationals too. The Italian Foreign Ministry said 16 Italians were missing. Three Italian nationals were being moved to Milan’s Niguarda hospital with burns covering 30–40 percent of their bodies.
The French Foreign Ministry said eight citizens were missing and that French nationals could be among the dead.
State councillor Stéphane Ganzer described the bar as hosting a “young festive population” during the party. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said the investigation aims “to identify the circumstances which caused this dramatic situation to occur.” She added that staircases were narrow and that several hypotheses were being considered, including a general fire rather than an explosion. She confirmed, “At no time is there a question of any attack.”
Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the fire “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced.” Locals gathered at Montana Station Church for a vigil, and floral tributes were laid near the bar. Le Constellation has an upstairs area with TV screens and a large bar downstairs.
International leaders have responded. King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “greatly saddened” by the fire. French President Emmanuel Macron said injured victims were being treated in France, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed coordination with Swiss authorities to provide medical support.