A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a luxury ski resort in the Swiss Alps, killing dozens of people and injuring around 100 more as hundreds of revelers celebrated the arrival of 2026. The blaze erupted at about 1:30 a.m. local time, tearing through the packed venue and sending thick smoke and flames roaring across the ceiling while panicked guests struggled to escape.
Witnesses described chaotic and terrifying scenes as flames spread with alarming speed, engulfing the wooden interior and ceiling of the crowded bar, trapping many inside the venue’s basement levels and narrow stairways. Two women who were inside told French broadcaster BFMTV that they saw a waiter lift a colleague holding a lit candle in a champagne bottle near the ceiling, which ignited the wooden structures, causing the blaze to spread rapidly and collapse overhead within seconds. People in the crowd frantically tried to flee upward, only to encounter congestion on the stairways and smoke that made breathing difficult.
Other witnesses recounted scenes of terror as people smashed windows to escape the inferno, with some observers comparing the unfolding tragedy to “a horror movie.” One young man watching from outside said he saw around 20 people scrambling out through smoke and flames, describing how the rapidly expanding fire and overwhelming panic turned what had been a celebration into a nightmare.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, deploying helicopters and ambulances to assist the wounded and transport them to hospitals across Switzerland, but regional health facilities were quickly overwhelmed. Authorities said there was no indication of a deliberate attack, and early investigations have focused on the rapid spread of fire and the possibility that pyrotechnic effects or sparklers played a role in igniting the ceiling.
Swiss officials, including the regional government’s head, expressed devastation over the tragedy, noting that what should have been a joyous moment had turned into one of the country’s worst peacetime disasters. Efforts to identify victims are ongoing, with many believed to be international tourists drawn to Crans-Montana’s vibrant New Year celebrations. A full investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess any safety lapses that may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
English