At least 40 people are dead and more than 100 others were severely injured after a fire swept through Le Constellation bar during a New Year’s Eve celebration in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, according to authorities.
The blaze was reported around 1:30 a.m. local time, roughly 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
Officials cautioned that the toll could rise because many of the injured are in critical condition.
Officials confirm casualties
Valais canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said the immediate priority is to identify those who died and notify families.
He described a demanding forensic process because of the condition of some victims, adding that identification work could take several days. Authorities said victims include Swiss residents and visitors from neighboring countries and beyond.
Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin offered condolences on his first day in office, noting that the victims include young people and that the tragedy cut across nationalities. He said what should have been a festive night had, instead, become a day of mourning for the country.
What happened at Le Constellation
Police said the fire began shortly after midnight inside Le Constellation, a two-level establishment in the center of the resort. Witnesses described flames racing across the ceiling and thick smoke filling rooms as people tried to reach exits.
Some accounts mentioned lit candles or sparklers near the ceiling before the fire spread, although investigators have not determined a precise cause.
Authorities emphasized there is no indication of an attack. The Valais canton attorney general, Beatrice Pilloud, said investigators opened a criminal inquiry to establish the cause but declined to speculate.
She said experts could not immediately enter all parts of the wreckage and that the bar’s maximum capacity and the number of people inside at the time would be part of the investigation.
Hospitals mobilize across Switzerland
First responders arrived within minutes. By around 5 a.m., all known injured had been triaged and transported for treatment. Officials said the number of patients quickly overwhelmed local capacity, particularly intensive care and operating theaters in the regional hospital. Authorities arranged transfers to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich for burn and trauma care.
Emergency services set up a reception center and a helpline for families in Crans-Montana. A temporary no-fly zone was imposed over the resort to keep airspace clear for helicopter operations and protect the emergency response.
Officials urged residents and visitors to exercise caution in the coming days to avoid additional incidents that could strain medical resources.
Investigation and identification
Gisler said the central tasks are identifying the dead and supporting families. Pilloud noted that investigators are gathering physical evidence and testimony, including from witnesses who reported a sudden acceleration of the fire.
Some officials referenced conditions consistent with a rapid ignition of accumulated gases, though they stressed that conclusions would come only after forensic work is complete.
Early casualty figures varied during the day as hospitals and police updated counts. Reports from authorities and foreign ministries pointed to about 40 dead. Injury totals ranged from about 100 to 115, and officials said the numbers could change as patients are identified and their conditions are assessed. Police reiterated that there was no evidence of an explosion or deliberate act.
