What we know so far about the deadly New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland

A deadly fire tore through a packed bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing dozens of people and leaving around 100 injured, most of them seriously, Swiss authorities said on Thursday. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of the new year, turning what was meant to be a night of celebration into one of the deadliest nightclub disasters Switzerland has seen in recent years.

The blaze broke out at around 1.30 AM local time at a bar called Le Constellation, located in the southwestern canton of Valais. Initial reports described the incident as an explosion, but officials later said there was no indication of an attack. Authorities believe the fire was accidental, though the exact cause is still under investigation.




Swiss police said ‘tens’ of people were presumed dead, while around 100 others suffered injuries, many of them severe burns. The Italian Foreign Ministry, citing information received from Swiss police, said the death toll could be around 40, though Swiss officials declined to confirm a specific figure, saying identification was still under way.

Video footage from the scene showed ambulances lined up outside the bar and helicopters ferrying victims to nearby hospitals and specialised burns units across Switzerland. According to emergency services, patients were transported to medical facilities in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich as authorities scrambled to respond to the scale of the disaster.

Footage verified by Reuters showed flames engulfing the building, with people outside the club running and screaming as smoke billowed into the night sky. Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, told Sky TG24 that local authorities had informed him the fire may have started when a firework was set off inside the bar, igniting the ceiling. He said several Italians were in Crans-Montana searching for information about missing friends or relatives, though he did not confirm whether any Italian citizens were among the victims.

By Thursday morning, the area around the bar had been sealed off. White forensic tents were erected behind screens, and the street was cordoned off as investigators began their work. Valais security chief Stéphane Ganzer described the scene faced by first responders as chaotic and harrowing. Hundreds of police officers, firefighters, and medical staff were deployed, while a helpline was set up for families seeking information. Authorities warned that identifying badly burned bodies would take time.

Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin expressed shock and sorrow over the disaster, saying, “What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year in Crans-Montana, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond.” Condolences also poured in from neighbouring countries as Switzerland grappled with the scale of the tragedy.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy New Year wishes, messages and quotes !