Several dozen people are presumed dead and at least 100 injured after a fire broke out during a New Year’s celebration at a bar in southwest Switzerland, the Valais canton’s police commander said at a news conference Thursday.
Frédéric Gisler said that the fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, occurred at 1:30 a.m. and that officials were “stunned.”
Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais attorney general, ruled out the possibility that the fire was the result of an attack. The area has been closed to the public amid the investigation into the blaze’s cause, police said.
Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais government, said in the news conference that an evening of celebration turned into “a nightmare” as he offered condolences to families of the victims. He said 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances and 150 responders were deployed to the scene.
The Constellation lounge bar is open seven days a week until 2 a.m. and has a capacity of 300 people with a terrace that holds 40, according to the resort’s tourism agency.
Many of the injured have “significant, severe burns,” Reynard said, adding that the intensive care unit at the Valais hospital is full. He said some victims were sent to other hospitals for treatment and urged the public to take care and not place further strain on health care workers.
The area was cordoned off, and a no-fly zone was established over Crans-Montana, according to authorities. A helpline was set up for those concerned about loved ones.
“What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year in Crans-Montana, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond,” Swiss President Guy Parmelin said on X.
The British Embassy in Switzerland said in a statement Thursday that “nationals from multiple countries” were probably affected and that it was ready to support British nationals there.
Crans-Montana attracts about 3 million visitors a year and has year-round sunshine, according to the tourism agency. It is popular with families, hikers, golfers and bikers and boasts panoramic views over peaks stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont-Blanc. The area has 87 miles of trails and is about a two-hour train ride south from the Swiss capital, Bern.
The resort has played a key role in professional skiing, hosting more than 50 World Cup races and the 1987 World Championships. It is set to host the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in February 2027.
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