Valais, Switzerland – About 40 people were killed and at least 115 others injured after a fire tore through a packed bar during New Year celebrations at a ski resort in Switzerland in the early hours of Thursday, January 1.
The blaze broke out at Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana, a luxury alpine destination in the Valais canton, shortly after 1.30am while a New Year’s party was under way. Swiss police said many of the victims were young people, with authorities warning that identifying all the deceased could take several days.
Emergency services were alerted within minutes after smoke was seen coming from the venue. Valais Cantonal Police commander Frédéric Gisler said officers arrived at the scene by 1.32am, followed by a large scale response involving firefighters, paramedics and air rescue teams. The fire was contained quickly, allowing rescue efforts to begin immediately.
According to Valais State Council president Mathias Reynard, 115 people were injured, with a significant number in critical condition. Eighty victims were transported to hospitals by emergency services, while 35 sought medical care on their own. A total of 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters and three disaster response trucks were deployed. Victims were treated in hospitals across Switzerland, including specialist burn centres in Lausanne and Zurich, while France confirmed that some injured people were admitted to hospitals across the border.
Authorities said they do not yet know how many people were inside the bar at the time of the fire. Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud told reporters that the venue’s capacity and compliance with safety regulations, including access routes and stairways, will form part of the investigation. No arrests have been made.
Witnesses at the scene described panic as flames spread rapidly, with people screaming and others lying on the ground outside the bar. Some accounts suggested the fire may have started when sparklers placed on champagne bottles came too close to the ceiling, but officials said it is too early to determine the exact cause.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Swiss President Guy Parmelin to convey France’s solidarity with Switzerland. In a message posted on social media, Macron described the loss of life as devastating and said diplomatic teams were assisting French nationals affected by the tragedy.
Discussion about this post