Deadly Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar on New Year's Day 2026 Kills About 40 and Injures Over 100
A deadly fire broke out around 1:30 am local time on New Year's Day 2026 at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland, a popular international ski resort about 40 km north of the Matterhorn.
The fire occurred during New Year's celebrations and resulted in about 40 fatalities and approximately 115 injuries, many of them serious. Authorities have indicated that identification of victims, who are largely young and from various nationalities, may take several days using dental and DNA methods. Among the injured are nationals from France, Italy, England, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, with reports of several missing, including around 16 Italians.
Witness accounts describe scenes of panic and chaos, with some patrons seen walking on top of others in efforts to escape the packed bar. Some victims had burned hair or were missing clothes, and many had to break windows or plexiglass to flee. Survivor Axel Clavier, aged 16 from Paris, described the event as total chaos and lost several personal items during the escape.
Emergency response was immediate with 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances, 150 paramedics, and 70 firefighters dispatched to the scene. The local hospital's intensive care unit was fully occupied, with patients being transferred to other facilities, including the University Hospital of Lausanne and hospitals in France.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the tragedy as one of the worst the country has seen, and King Charles called it a horrific disaster. Italian and French officials have been monitoring the situation closely.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with two main theories considered: a firecracker igniting inside the bar or candles set on champagne bottles causing the ceiling to catch fire. Witnesses reported seeing candles ignite the ceiling, and the Italian ambassador mentioned the possibility of a firecracker. Authorities have ruled out an attack and confirm that no suspects or arrests have been made.
The incident remains under investigation as casualty figures and victim identifications are expected to be updated in the coming days.
