A devastating fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most exclusive ski resorts, during New Year’s celebrations
early Thursday, killing about 40 people and injuring around 115 others, many critically. Authorities said it could take days to identify all the victims as investigations continue.
Chilling Videos Show Panic as Blaze Erupts
BREAKING UPDATE: At least 40 people killed, 115 others injured after fire at Crans-Montana, Switzerland bar; most of the victims are in their teens and 20s. - BNO pic.twitter.com/YgIwjTXkAE
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) January 1, 2026
pic.twitter.com/vZEpYR4lfq Several dozen people have been killed and more than 100 injured after a fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
— Υουκε 🌿 (@lagracelaverite) January 1, 2026
Watching people choose to film others being burned instead of helping them escape is infuriating in the…
Videos circulating from outside the Le Constellation bar capture moments of panic as the blaze erupted, showing crowds fleeing the area amid smoke and confusion. Footage shows people trapped inside as others tried to escape, highlighting the chaos during the early moments of the fire.
Two witnesses told BFMTV that sparklers placed in champagne bottles may have caused the deadly blaze. However, officials cautioned that it will take time to determine the exact cause.
What Happened at Crans-Montana
The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. local time as a New Year’s party was underway at the popular bar. Police said panic quickly spread inside the packed venue as smoke and flames engulfed the space. Panicked partygoers smashed windows and scrambled through thick smoke to escape, with several sustaining serious injuries in the process.
Witnesses described chaotic and harrowing scenes. Screaming crowds spilled onto the street as parents rushed to the bar, desperately searching for their children. One witness told French broadcaster BFMTV that people were breaking windows to flee while flames spread rapidly inside, calling the scene “like a horror movie.” From across the street, he said he saw around 20 people escape through smoke and fire.
Authorities confirmed that most of the victims were young partygoers, many aged between 16 and 26.
Police have sealed off the area around the bar and imposed a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana to support emergency and investigative efforts. Prosecutors said the incident is being treated as a fire and not as a terror attack.
Crans-Montana, often described as an alpine haven, is known for its sweeping views stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and attracts a wealthy, international crowd. What was meant to be a night of celebration instead turned into one of Switzerland’s deadliest tragedies, leaving the nation in shock as authorities work to uncover how the blaze began.
