A catastrophic fire at a New Year's Eve celebration in an upmarket Swiss ski resort has left around 40 people dead and 115 injured, with witnesses describing scenes reminiscent of a horror film.
Panic and Tragedy in the Early Hours
The blaze erupted at approximately 1:30am local time on Thursday 1 January 2026 at the Constellation Bar in the resort of Crans-Montana. The basement venue was packed with revellers marking the turn of the year when the fire broke out, rapidly engulfing the ceiling and spreading panic.
Emergency services arrived within minutes, but it was already too late for dozens believed to have been trapped in the basement. Most of those killed or wounded are thought to be young people. Due to the severity of the burns, authorities have warned that identifying the victims and establishing a definitive death toll will take several days, with experts using dental and DNA records.
'Like a Horror Movie': Witness Accounts of Chaos
Survivors and first responders painted a picture of utter chaos and trauma. Samuel Rapp, who was at a nearby restaurant, described a crush of people at the entry, "walking on everybody trying to escape." He saw many screaming and others on the floor, with some victims having their hair or clothes burned off.
Another witness told BFMTV of people smashing windows to flee, some with severe injuries, while panicked parents rushed to the scene. A young man watching from across the street likened the sight of about 20 people scrambling from the smoke and flames to something from a horror movie.
Leon Christe, a resort worker who was among the first on scene, administered first aid. "It was very chaotic and very sad," he said. "Everywhere, there were young people who needed help, some had their clothes burned off. It was very traumatising."
International Response and Ongoing Investigation
The scale of the disaster has shocked the nation and drawn international condolences. Switzerland's President, Guy Parmelin, called it "one of the worst tragedies our country has ever known." King Charles described it as a "horrific disaster."
While the cause remains unclear, witnesses reported seeing sparklers or candles in bottles in the basement bar. However, Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais Canton attorney general, stated it was too early to determine the origin, as experts have not yet been able to enter the charred wreckage.
The aftermath has seen victims airlifted by helicopter to hospitals across the region, including the University Hospital of Lausanne, which specialises in severe burns. France confirmed at least three of its nationals were injured and eight were missing, while Italian officials said 13 citizens were injured and six unaccounted for.
On New Year's Day, a sombre vigil was held near the site, with mourners gathering to lay flowers and light candles for the victims, as the community and emergency services reel from the impact of the accident.
