Switzerland Crans-Montana Bar Fire 2026: Dozens Feared Dead

Dozens of people are presumed dead and around 100 others are injured after a massive fire tore through a bar in a luxury Swiss ski resort. The celebration turned into a nightmare as flames engulfed the venue during the peak of New Year festivities.

Tragedy at Switzerland Crans-Montana Bar Le Constellation

The blaze broke out at approximately 01:30 local time at Le Constellation, a well-known bar in the Crans-Montana resort in the Valais region. Hundreds of tourists from various countries were attending the New Year party when the fire started, leading to a chaotic evacuation.

The emergency response was massive, involving 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and over 150 responders. Regional leader Mathias Reynard stated that local hospitals have reached full capacity in their intensive care units as they treat victims with severe burns.

Investigation Into the Cause and Casualties

While official death tolls are still being finalized, the Italian Foreign Ministry indicated that approximately 40 people may have lost their lives. Authorities have confirmed that victims include multiple nationalities, making the identification process complex and likely to take several weeks.

Officials have explicitly ruled out an attack. Prosecutor General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances. Though some reports suggested pyrotechnics might be to blame, security official Stéphane Ganzer clarified that the explosion reported by witnesses was likely caused by the fire's rapid development rather than a pre-existing explosive device.