CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland: Swiss authorities said on Thursday that a deadly New Year’s Day blaze at a crowded bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana was being treated as a fire incident, with “no question” of an attack, as dozens of people were presumed dead and around 100 injured.
The fire broke out at around 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) at Le Constellation bar, where revellers were celebrating the start of 2026.
Beatrice Pilloud, the chief prosecutor of Valais canton, said investigators were focusing on a fire scenario and had ruled out terrorism or any deliberate attack.
Police said “several dozen” people were presumed to have died, though the exact number has yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Italy’s foreign ministry, citing Swiss police, said around 40 people were believed to have been killed. Around 100 people were injured, most with severe burns, according to local authorities.
Many were taken to Valais hospital, whose intensive care unit is now full. A specialist burns unit in Milan, Italy, has been placed on standby to receive patients.
Ten helicopters, 40 ambulances and around 150 emergency workers were deployed to the scene.
Authorities said work was ongoing to identify victims and return bodies to families as quickly as possible, warning that the process could take weeks due to the severity of the burns.
Cause under investigation
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Pilloud said earlier reports of an explosion should not be interpreted as evidence of an attack.
Regional security official Stéphane Ganzer said it was not an explosive device that caused the blaze.
“It is the fire which, as it develops, causes an explosion and a general conflagration of the premises,” he said.
Two French nationals who said they were inside the bar told French broadcaster BFMTV that a birthday candle placed on a champagne bottle may have ignited the wooden ceiling.
They described how flames spread within seconds and said evacuation was extremely difficult due to narrow escape routes.
Smoke was first seen rising from the bar shortly after 01:30, prompting emergency calls, BBC reported.
Police patrols arrived quickly, followed by firefighters and rescue teams, Valais police commander Frédéric Gisler said.
Scene of panic and rescue
Images shared by Swiss media showed the building engulfed in flames, with ambulances and emergency crews surrounding the site.
Witnesses described panic as people ran from the venue while helicopters circled overhead.
A tourist from New York told AFP he saw bright orange flames pouring from the bar and people screaming in the dark. Emergency services remained at the scene hours later.
Authorities sealed off the area and imposed a temporary no-fly zone over Crans-Montana to allow rescue and investigative work to continue.
Officials said several nationalities were likely among the victims. French media reported that at least two injured people were French nationals.
The UK Foreign Office said consular staff were on standby, though no request for assistance had been made.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered France’s “full solidarity” with Switzerland.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”, saying what should have been a moment of joy had turned into a day of mourning for the country.
What was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, felt across the country and beyond. The Federal Council has taken note of this with deep dismay. Its thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families and it extends its deepest condolences.
— Guy Parmelin (@ParmelinG) January 1, 2026
Pakistan expresses solidarity
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed condolences and solidarity with Switzerland, offering prayers for the victims and the injured.
President Zardari, in a post on X, expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to the victims’ families and solidarity with the Swiss people.
“Heartbroken by news of the devastating explosion & fire in Crans-Montana🇨🇭on New Year’s night. I extend deepest condolences to the families of the victims & wish strength & swift recovery to the injured. 🇵🇰 stands with🇨🇭 in this hour of grief.” ~ President Asif Ali Zardari
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) January 1, 2026
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences and expressed solidarity with the Swiss Government and the people of Switzerland.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of the injured,” PM Sharif posted on X.
“We stand in solidarity with the Swiss government and the people of Switzerland at this difficult time.”
Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic fire incident at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year night. Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the Swiss Government and the people of Switzerland at…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 1, 2026
Le Constellation is a long-established bar in Crans-Montana, a luxury resort in the Swiss Alps around 40 kilometres north of the Matterhorn.
The venue can hold up to 300 people indoors, with additional space on its terrace. Police said around 100 people were inside at the time of the fire.
The Christmas and New Year period is among the busiest times for Alpine resorts, and authorities believe the bar was filled with both Swiss residents and international tourists.
A helpline has been set up for concerned families at +41 848 112 117, while investigations continue into the precise circumstances that led to one of Switzerland’s deadliest fires in recent years.
