CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland – A fast-moving fire tore through a crowded bar in the upscale Swiss Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, killing about 47 people and injuring at least 115 others — many with severe burns — as revelers celebrated the arrival of the new year, authorities said.
The blaze erupted around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation, a popular venue in the center of the resort town known for its mix of sports viewing upstairs and dancing downstairs, Valais cantonal police said. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of panic, with people screaming, trampling one another and breaking windows in desperate attempts to escape the flames.
Police commander Frédéric Gisler told a news conference Thursday afternoon that the preliminary toll stood at around 40 dead and 115 injured, most of them seriously. Authorities warned that the final death toll could rise and that identifying victims would be a lengthy process due to the severity of burns on many of the bodies.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the incident “one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced” and announced five days of national mourning, with flags to fly at half-staff. He expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and the affected community.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but officials said there was no evidence of arson, sabotage or terrorism. Prosecutor-general Beatrice Pilloud emphasized that authorities were currently treating it as an accidental blaze. Some witnesses suggested the fire may have started from sparklers attached to champagne bottles, a common celebratory practice, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The bar, which has a reported capacity of around 400 people, was packed with a young crowd — including many teenagers and visitors from Switzerland and neighboring countries — during one of the busiest holiday periods for Alpine resorts. Italy’s foreign ministry said 16 Italian nationals were missing and 12 others injured, while France reported eight citizens unaccounted for and could not rule out French victims among the dead.
Emergency responders mobilized extensively, deploying more than a dozen helicopters, dozens of ambulances and hundreds of personnel to transport the wounded to hospitals across Switzerland, including specialist burns units in Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva. Some injured were also being treated in neighboring countries.
Crans-Montana, located in the heart of the Valais region about 25 miles north of the Matterhorn, is renowned for its ski slopes, golf courses and international events. The resort is part of the Epic Pass network and is scheduled to host competitions in the coming months.
As night fell Thursday, mourners gathered outside the cordoned-off site, laying flowers, candles and stuffed animals in tribute. Residents and tourists alike expressed shock at the sudden transformation of a night of joy into one of profound grief.
Investigators are examining building safety features, including staircases and occupancy limits, as part of their inquiry into the circumstances of the disaster.
