In the early hours of January 1, 2026, what should have been the highlight of New Year celebrations turned into one of the worst tragedies in the history of Swiss tourism. At the famous alpine resort of Crans-Montana, located in the heart of the Alps in the canton of Valais, a massive fire broke out in the popular bar Le Constellation. It has already led to roughly 40 deaths and more than 100 injuries - and the numbers continue to be updated, DKNews.kz reports.
How it happened
The fire started at around 1:30 a.m. local time, when hundreds of people had gathered inside Le Constellation to ring in the New Year. Survivors say the flames erupted almost instantly: wooden interior elements and a dense crowd of people turned what seemed like a minor ignition into a catastrophic blaze within seconds.
According to police, the fire was accompanied by bangs and a shock wave, which initially made some witnesses think there had been an explosion. However, officials have ruled out terrorism or intentional arson - investigators are treating the incident as an accident caused by a fire whose source has not yet been determined.
Shocking scale - dozens dead and injured
Police and emergency services report “several dozen fatalities” and around 100 people injured, many of them seriously. Among the victims are both locals and tourists from other countries, creating an additional challenge for authorities - coordinating international assistance and sharing information with diplomatic services.
Local hospitals were quickly overwhelmed. Doctors activated a “disaster plan,” and patients had to be distributed among clinics in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich. Rescue helicopters, dozens of ambulances, and more than a hundred emergency medical specialists worked under extreme humanitarian pressure.
Crans-Montana - an elite resort struck by tragedy
Crans-Montana is known as one of the symbols of Swiss winter tourism: 140 kilometers of ski runs, spectacular Alpine panoramas, and vibrant nightlife attract winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world. The New Year period is the absolute peak of the season, when hotels, bars, and restaurants are packed.
But on this festive night, what was supposed to be an ordinary party at a bar turned into a devastating fire with catastrophic consequences, affecting both European residents and international visitors.
What is known about the causes and consequences
Officials emphasize that it is still too early to speak definitively about the cause of the blaze - a detailed investigation is underway. It has been established that a flash and rapid fire surge occurred inside the crowded venue, which greatly worsened the outcome.
Swiss authorities imposed a no-fly zone over the area and cordoned it off to ensure safety and avoid interfering with rescue operations. A hotline has been opened for families of the victims, and the president expressed condolences to the injured and their loved ones.
Why it matters
This tragic event is not just another accident. It highlights the vulnerability of even the safest and most prestigious tourist destinations to unforeseen disasters - and underscores the urgent need for the strictest safety controls at mass events, especially in the era of global tourism.
