Swiss Ski-Resort Bar Blaze Kills About 40, Leaves Scores Injured as Authorities Probe Cause

Around 40 people have died and 115 others have been injured after a fire tore through a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Day, authorities said. The blaze erupted at about 01:30 local time (00:30 GMT) in the venue Le Constellation and is being treated as a fire rather than an attack.

Regional security officials warned the death toll could rise. Stéphane Ganzer, a regional security official, told RTL TV that roughly 80 to 100 of the injured were in critical condition, and that the toll may increase as the situation is assessed.

Switzerland's President Guy Parmelin described the event as "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced." The region's chief prosecutor said there was "no question" that the incident was an attack, and investigators are focusing on determining the origin and circumstances of the fire.

Work to identify the deceased is under way. Beatrice Pilloud, the region's attorney general, said authorities were working to return bodies to families as quickly as possible, but cautioned that identification could take days or even weeks.

Nationalities of those affected appear to be mixed. The Italian foreign ministry reported six Italian nationals missing and 13 Italians in hospital. The French foreign ministry said eight of its citizens were missing and said it could not rule out that French nationals were among the dead. French media reported at least two injured people were French.

A specific case of an injured foreign national has been confirmed. French football club FC Metz said one of its youth players, 19-year-old Tahirys Dos Santos, was "severely burned" in the fire and was airlifted to a hospital in Germany for treatment.

The UK embassy in Switzerland said it was monitoring the situation and that consular staff were on standby to support any British nationals affected, but that it had not been approached for assistance.

A helpline has been established for concerned families: +41 848 112 117. Injured people have been transported to hospitals across Switzerland and to other countries.

Initial findings do not indicate the fire was caused by an attack. Investigators have cautioned that the precise cause remains unknown. Mr Ganzer addressed earlier reports of an explosion, explaining that it was not the detonation of an explosive device but that the fire itself, as it developed, caused explosions and a general conflagration of the premises.

Eyewitness accounts offer a possible ignition scenario. Two French patrons who said they were in the bar described seeing a waitress place a birthday candle on top of a champagne bottle. They said one of the candles was too close to the wooden ceiling, which ignited and, within seconds, the ceiling was ablaze. The witnesses told BFMTV that the evacuation was difficult because escape routes were narrow.

Authorities have not confirmed the witnesses' description of the staircases. Ms Pilloud said investigators will assess whether staircases and other escape routes complied with relevant safety requirements and that it was too early to comment on any possible safety failures.

Le Constellation is a longstanding bar in Crans-Montana. While the resort is known to be upmarket, the bar itself has been described as less posh. It can hold up to 300 people, with an upstairs area featuring screens for watching football and a large downstairs bar space where patrons commonly drink and dance. The venue also has a small outdoor terrace.

Christmas and New Year are among the busiest periods for Alpine resorts, making it likely the bar was crowded at the time of the incident. A promotional video for Le Constellation posted in May 2024 showed patrons carrying sparklers placed in alcohol bottles; the video included participants wearing motorcycle helmets while holding the sparklers above their heads.

Police released images from inside the bar after the fire showing chairs and benches strewn across the room, illustrating the scale of the interior damage. Video footage shared by authorities and media outlets appears to show the moment the fire began to spread rapidly.

Investigations will continue to focus on the precise origin of the blaze, the sequence of events that allowed it to spread, and whether building safety measures complied with regulatory requirements. Authorities have urged patience as they work to identify victims and complete technical and forensic inquiries.

• Casualties reported: about 40 dead, 115 injured.
• Critical condition: some 80–100 injured in serious condition.
• Location: Le Constellation bar, Crans-Montana; fire began around 01:30 local time on New Year's Day.
• Nationalities involved: reported missing or injured include Italian and French nationals; at least one French youth player severely burned and transferred to Germany.
• Investigation: being treated as a fire; no evidence so far of a deliberate attack; officials investigating cause and compliance with safety rules.

Authorities have asked anyone with information or those seeking assistance to use the helpline and to cooperate with investigators as the inquiry proceeds.