40 Dead, About 100 Injured After Fire Rips Through Swiss Ski Resort Bar
Swiss emergency services responded to an explosion and fire that killed 40 people and injured about 100 during New Year's celebrations at a bar and lounge called Le Constellation, located in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland.
BREAKING: Swiss police say "several dozen" people are dead, and "100 or so" people have been injured after the fire at Le Constellation bar in Switzerland https://t.co/5MpePzQTlm
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 1, 2026
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Local officials said the cause of the blast at Le Constellation remains unclear and noted that it has not been designated as a terrorist attack.
"At the moment, we are considering this a fire, and we are not considering the possibility of an attack," prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud told reporters, adding that a full investigation has commenced.
"We are a ruling out an attack"
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 1, 2026
Swiss authorities say the incident is being considered a fire and not an attackhttps://t.co/5MpePzQTlm
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Latest details from the Swiss news conference:
Around 40 people are presumed dead, with at least 100 injured
Victims include multiple nationalities
Most of the injured sustained severe burns and significant injuries
Swiss emergency services deployed 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 responders to the scene
Authorities did not disclose a cause for the fire, but the prosecutor ruled out a terrorist attack
The Valais hospital intensive care unit is at capacity, with patients being transferred elsewhere for specialized burn treatment
"What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year in Crans-Montana, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond," Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin wrote on X.