Switzerland - "Several dozen" dead and about 100 injured in explosion in bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss ski resort, 1 January 2026

[Rikissa]

Several people have died, and others are injured, after an explosion in a bar in the Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana. The cause of the explosion, that took place at 1:30 a.m., is yet not known.

Several dead and injured in explosion at Swiss ski resort town Crans-Montana, police say

Police say explosion ripped through a bar called La Constellation in the luxury Alpine ski resort town

www.theguardian.com

 

[MelmothTheLost]

‘At least ten people killed’ as explosion rips through bar at Swiss ski resort as they celebrate the New Year​

At least 10 people have been killed and 10 others injured after an explosion at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.

The blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

The tragedy unfolded as revellers welcomed in the New Year at the bar, which is popular with tourists.

There are reports the blast may have been caused by fireworks - however police say this is yet to be confirmed.

'Around FORTY' feared dead and 100 injured in Swiss ski resort blaze

The blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[TexLil]

Dozens presumed dead in new year catastrophe at Swiss ski resort

Around 100 others injured

The area is closed to the public while police investigate and a no-fly zone is in place. Officials are treating the tragedy as a fire, not a terror attack, a prosecutor said.

Multiple helicopters and ambulances were deployed to assist the injured and 150 medical personnel were mobilized.

Live updates link: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news...67261342&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

 

[Yellowbelly]

The BBC live feed, which is reporting that the Italian foreign ministry are saying that 40 people have been killed.

The feed also mentions local reports that pyrotechnics caused the explosion.

Switzerland ski fire latest: 'Several dozen' believed to have been killed in Crans-Montana bar

The fire broke out at 01:30 local time in Crans-Montana - the cause is not known, but the prosecutor says there's "no question" of an attack.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The BBC live feed, which is reporting that the Italian foreign ministry are saying that 40 people have been killed.

The feed also mentions local reports that pyrotechnics caused the explosion.

Switzerland ski fire latest: 'Several dozen' believed to have been killed in Crans-Montana bar

The fire broke out at 01:30 local time in Crans-Montana - the cause is not known, but the prosecutor says there's "no question" of an attack.

www.bbc.co.uk

If it does turn out to have been pyrotechnics (presumably inside the bar) it seems astonishing that this type of incident is still happening. There have been so many high profile cases over the decades of fireworks being set off inside bars, discos or where bands are playing causing catastrophes like this.

 

[Rikissa]

If it does turn out to have been pyrotechnics (presumably inside the bar) it seems astonishing that this type of incident is still happening. There have been so many high profile cases over the decades of fireworks being set off inside bars, discos or where bands are playing causing catastrophes like this.

Yes, I can't understand the use of fireworks in bars and discos, places where the cieling is low. I would leave if there was to be fireworks in such places. I've been to concerts where there have been fireworks, but that has been in large arenas, where the cieling has been at least 20 metres up, and where there are sprinkle systems.

 

[Dotta]

"Fire broke out after ​

'birthday candle was placed in champagne bottle', say witnesses.​

Witnesses believe the blaze was caused by a birthday candle put inside a champagne bottle in the basement of the venue.

One woman, who gave her name as Emma, was at the bar when the explosion occurred, described how the fire seemed to start after people celebrated with champagne bottles that contained candles.

'Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside, screaming and crying,' she told French news channel BFM.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blaze but have ruled out a terror attack.
........

Authorities say explosions heard at the bar
were caused by a fire amid reports the blaze was the result of a blast."

King Charles 'heartbroken' after Swiss resort NYE party tragedy

RECAP: King Charles has offered his sympathies to the 47 people killed and 115 injured after a devastating fire ripped through a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MelmothTheLost]

One woman, who gave her name as Emma, was at the bar when the explosion occurred, described how the fire seemed to start after people celebrated with champagne bottles that contained candles.

'Some of the bottles were near the ceiling and it caught fire. The whole ceiling was in flames and the fire spread really fast. It happened in seconds. We ran outside, screaming and crying,' she told French news channel BFM.

I may be misunderstanding this, but it sounds as though revellers stuck lit candles into the necks of empty champagne bottles and then danced holding them up to the ceiling. Maybe there was a fairly low ceiling and the candles set fire to decorations.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

As it's not yet clear what caused the fire, this article mentions how widespread the risk is of fires involving pyrotechnics in places of entertainment:

On 16th March 2025, a fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in North Macedonia. Leaving 61 people dead, the fire was reportedly started by indoor fireworks igniting materials inside the club. Many people will remember similar incidents as nightclub fires are often in the news and often caused by the use of fireworks or other pyrotechnics.

Indeed, in the last twenty-five years, similar fires have occurred in the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Argentina, the USA, Ecuador, China and Brazil. Around 1,000 people have died in such fires.

Fires in nightclubs started by pyrotechnics

This Feature Article highlights the ongoing global risk of nightclub fires started by pyrotechnics, following an incident in North Macedonia that claimed 61 lives.

www.cross-safety.org

 

[Parsnip]

I may be misunderstanding this, but it sounds as though revellers stuck lit candles into the necks of empty champagne bottles and then danced holding them up to the ceiling. Maybe there was a fairly low ceiling and the candles set fire to decorations.

Thank you. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the notion of champagne bottle candles and how that could lead to an explosion. I could see where candles lit near dried out holiday garlands could ignite very quickly, if indeed something like that happened.

This is so horrific and sad.

My condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing strength to the survivors. Burn victims suffer so much.

Edit: clarity

 

[MelmothTheLost]

There's an interesting list of nightclub fires on Wikipedia. What's interesting to note is that pyrotechnics have only emerged as a cause of such fires since 1999. Also how many have been the result of arson, though this does not seem to be a factor in this case.

List of nightclub fires - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Another slightly different account of how the fire started:

'Waiter waving a sparkler while dancing on a colleague's shoulders' started Swiss luxury nightclub fire that killed up to 40 people and injured 100​

A survivor of the blaze told French news channel BFM: ‘During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders.

‘He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.’

Another women said: ‘The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.’

'Around FORTY' feared dead and 100 injured in Swiss ski resort blaze

The blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Rikissa]

I may be misunderstanding this, but it sounds as though revellers stuck lit candles into the necks of empty champagne bottles and then danced holding them up to the ceiling. Maybe there was a fairly low ceiling and the candles set fire to decorations.

This Swiss newspaper article mention that it might have been "birthday or sparkler candle attatched to a champagne bottle", when lifted towards the cieling, that could have started the fire. I would guess a sparkler candle being more likely, as they tend to send out small, hot sparkles. Not neccessarily an empty bottle, it could have been an unopened bottle given as a gift, and with candles attatched.

Article from German translated with Google Translate into English:

Silvester-Drama: Tote und Schwerverletzte in Crans-Montana

In der Bar «Le Constellation» in Crans-Montana kam es an Silvester zu einem verheerenden Brand, bei dem mehrere Dutzend Menschen starben. Die Ursache des Unglücks ist noch unklar, Ermittlungen laufen.

www-blick-ch.translate.goog

 

[Dotta]

Another slightly different account of how the fire started:

'Waiter waving a sparkler while dancing on a colleague's shoulders' started Swiss luxury nightclub fire that killed up to 40 people and injured 100​

A survivor of the blaze told French news channel BFM: ‘During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders.

‘He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes.’

Another women said: ‘The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time.’

'Around FORTY' feared dead and 100 injured in Swiss ski resort blaze

The blast occurred at around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

www.dailymail.co.uk

From link above:

"A witness said
'the staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow'
as people rushed to escape the deadly blaze."

Huh?
No emergency exits???

 

[Rikissa]

From link above:

"A witness said
'the staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow'
as people rushed to escape the deadly blaze."

Huh?
No emergency exits???

It seems as the place was at least 40 years old, and in a basement. The building regulations then were most likely different from what is approved today. There are some photos in this article:

Inside ski resort bar devastated by fire where dozens of revellers dead

Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was a 'local institution' and popular for forty years

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[MelmothTheLost]

From link above:

"A witness said
'the staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow'
as people rushed to escape the deadly blaze."

Huh?
No emergency exits???

I did see a comment that although Crans-Montana is a generally up-market resort, this particular bar/club was not and attracted a younger crowd. Given that it was also in a basement, it might in reality have been a bit of a dive.

 

[Rikissa]

From Swiss news, translated into English:
"Several dozen" dead and about 100 injured.

Brand in Bar an Neujahrsfeier - «Wir sahen Menschen, die schrien und in Panik waren»

Während einer Silvesterparty in einer Bar sind gemäss Polizeiangaben mehrere Dutzend Menschen tödlich verletzt worden.

www-srf-ch.translate.goog

 

[Dotta]

It seems as the place was at least 40 years old, and in a basement. The building regulations then were most likely different from what is approved today. There are some photos in this article:

Inside ski resort bar devastated by fire where dozens of revellers dead

Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was a 'local institution' and popular for forty years

www.mirror.co.uk

I would think
that any place organizing such public event
should have permission from Fire Service Department.

It really doesn't matter when the place was built.
Safety Regulations are the same for all.

There are also annual inspections to make sure such places are safe for people attending.
Well, at least in my country.
Those who don't update safety measures,
cannot operate.

JMO

 

[Yellowbelly]

The BBC live feed version of how the fire started -

French nationals Emma and Albane were ringing in the new year at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana when the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.

The pair tell BFMTV they believe the blaze was the result of a candle being "held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire".

They claim one of the waitresses had put "birthday candles" on top of some champagne bottles, one of which was then held up.

"In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood," they say.

They say the flames "started to rise very quickly", adding that "the entire ceiling was on fire, even the first floor was on fire" as they tried to make their way outside.

Evacuation was "very difficult", Emma and Albane say, because the escape route out of the room they were in was "narrow" and the stairs leading outside were "even narrower".

"We were very lucky," they add, saying there were "about 200 people trying to get out within 30 seconds through some very narrow steps".

Tripadvisor has pictures from inside the bar. These are the steps up from the lower level -

Google Image Result for https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-i/0c/5e/c0/36/le-constellation.jpg

And this is a good picture of the ceiling. It seems to have some sort of fabric covering.

Google Image Result for https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-i/0c/5e/c0/35/le-constellation.jpg

 

[Rikissa]

I did see a comment that although Crans-Montana is a generally up-market resort, this particular bar/club was not and attracted a younger crowd. Given that it was also in a basement, it might in reality have been a bit of a dive.

Maybe, but an expensive one in that case, as a beer and a glass of wine was 16,50 Swiss Franc (CHF) in 2020, today a beer is about 6-9 CHF.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g198810-d10030126-Reviews-Le_Constellation-Crans_Montana_Canton_of_Valais_Swiss_Alps.html#/media/10030126/?type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&albumid=101&category=101