Dozens Dead After Tragic New Year's Blaze at Swiss Ski Resort Bar

Forty people are dead and 119 are injured after flames tore through a bar at the popular ski destination Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve, according to local police.

Reportedly, the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. local time on January 1 as partiers celebrated the New Year. Le Constellation, where the disaster took place, is said to be popular among teenagers and those in their 20s.

“What was a moment of joy turned into a tragedy in Crans-Montana last night, felt across the country and beyond,” Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, said in a social media post. “The Federal Council has taken note of this with deep dismay. Its thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families and it extends its deepest condolences.”

Reuters reported that Parmelin also said that most of the dead were young people, adding that the tragedy was of "unprecedented and appalling proportions."

What Caused the Crans-Montana Fire?

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Authorities, on Friday, said that the likely culprit was sparklers, which aligns with what some witnesses saw.

“There were waitresses carrying champagne bottles with sparklers on them, and they carried them close to the ceiling, which caused it to catch fire,” one witness said, according to CNN.

The fire reportedly set off at least one explosion, but investigators dismissed the idea of a terrorist attack. Instead, authorities said a "flashover" likely caused the explosion or explosions, which is when objects in an enclosed area ignite all at once.

After the fire started, a scene of chaos and confusion unfolded. Video footage captured during the night shows flames burning, throngs of people, and billowing smoke. One clip seemed to show that panic didn’t strike immediately, with bar patrons continuing to chat and dance even as the fire spread.

An Overwhelming Number of Injuries

In response, officials said they mobilized helicopters and ambulances to transport the injured to hospitals. Around Crans-Montana, the local medical system has been overwhelmed. Some of the injured have been transported to hospitals outside Switzerland. Police asked people on Thursday to avoid using hospital services, when possible, to avoid overloading the system further.

People of multiple nationalities were involved in the disaster. Police said 71 of those injured are Swiss. There are also 14 French nationals, 11 Italians, four Serbians, as well as one person each from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal. For the deceased, ten still have only been partially identified.

Parmelin, the president, has thanked the leaders of neighboring countries, who he said contacted Switzerland following the fire.

Crans-Montana, the ski resort, draws over a million visitors each year and is owned by the mountain conglomerate Vail Resorts after being bought in 2024. It’s set to host a men’s and women’s World Cup alpine races at the end of January and in early February. 

In a statement, World Cup organizers FIS said the governing body will “defer to the local organisers and authorities for any decision regarding the scheduled competitions.”

The town, in a translated social media post, wrote, “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we thank all the people and services who have stepped in to rescue, and continue to do so.”