A New Year's celebration at a popular Swiss ski resort descended into a deadly inferno, claiming the lives of at least 40 young revellers and injuring 115 others.
The Night That Turned to Horror
The disaster unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, 1 January 2026, at the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana. Around 1:30am, a blaze erupted inside the packed basement venue, which was hosting a ski club party. Witnesses described seeing a bartender lift a female colleague onto his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle, which is believed to have ignited the fire.
Video footage from inside the club showed flames spreading with terrifying speed across foam insulation material on the ceiling. The fire caused the wooden ceiling to collapse, triggering panic among the crowd. With only a single, narrow staircase leading to the exit, a desperate crush ensued as people fought to escape the smoke and flames.
One witness, speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, likened the scene to a horror movie, with about 20 people seen scrambling to get out. Horrifying footage showed desperate individuals slamming at windows and piling on top of each other at the exits. A young man at the scene reported that people smashed windows to escape, leaving some gravely injured.
A Cascade of Failures and a Flashover
Investigations have revealed that the basement venue was fitted with highly flammable wooden furnishings and foam-style ceiling material. The bar had previously received a safety rating of just 6.5 out of 10, with inspectors highlighting a dangerous combination of flammable interiors and a critical lack of adequate fire escapes.
Swiss officials described the blaze as an 'embrasement généralisé,' a French firefighting term. This phenomenon, known in English as a flashover, occurs when a room reaches an extreme temperature—around 600°C—causing all combustible materials to ignite almost simultaneously. This rapid escalation would have trapped many inside within moments.
While the cause is still under formal investigation, authorities have already ruled out a deliberate attack. Experts have not yet been able to enter the unstable wreckage, according to Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud.
Aftermath and National Mourning
The scale of the injuries overwhelmed local medical services. Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais Cantonal government, confirmed that the intensive care unit and operating theatre at the regional hospital reached full capacity rapidly. Victims suffered from severe burns and smoke inhalation, with some requiring transfer to specialist hospitals across Switzerland.
Witness Gianni told Swiss outlet 20 Minuten that victims suffered horrific burns, with faces 'completely disfigured' and hair burned away. He described many as being left blackened by the flames, their clothes fused to their skin.
The identities of the deceased have not been officially released, with friends fearing the process could take weeks due to the condition of the bodies. Swiss President Guy Parmelin addressed the nation, confirming many victims were young. 'Many of the victims were young, with many hopes and dreams,' he said, calling it one of the worst tragedies the country has ever experienced.
Vigils are being held in Crans-Montana as the Swiss nation comes to terms with the devastating loss. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution to avoid accidents that would further strain the overwhelmed emergency and medical resources.
