Switzerland is mourning one of its worst peacetime disasters after a ferocious fire tore through a packed Alpine bar during New Year's Eve celebrations, claiming the lives of more than 40 people and leaving dozens more with severe burn injuries.
Rapid Spread of the Blaze
The inferno erupted at the Le Constellation bar in the luxury Crans-Montana ski resort at approximately 1.30am local time (00.30 GMT) as revellers welcomed 2025. Police responded within minutes, but the basement venue was already engulfed in a major conflagration.
While the official cause remains under investigation, video evidence, photographs, and witness accounts indicate the flames spread with terrifying speed across the ceiling of the crowded club. One theory from officials suggests the initial fire may have triggered the release of combustible gases, leading to a violent ignition.
Scene of Panic and Tragedy
Witnesses described a scene of chaos as hundreds of people, many of them teenagers and young locals, desperately tried to escape the basement nightclub via a narrow flight of stairs and a small doorway. The venue, which did not charge an entrance fee and was popular with a young crowd, had a maximum capacity of about 300.
People were forced to smash windows to flee the smoke and flames, while firefighters later broke windows in a neighbouring apartment block to gain access. Panicked parents rushed to the scene in cars, searching for their children as ambulances and helicopters arrived to assist the injured.
International Victims and National Mourning
The tragedy has an international dimension, with victims from several countries. Reports indicate around 15 Italians are missing, and France has confirmed eight of its citizens are unaccounted for. The severity of burns has made immediate identification of many victims impossible.
Regional hospital intensive care units and operating theatres quickly reached full capacity, requiring the injured to be distributed to medical centres across Switzerland. In a mark of respect, Switzerland has ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast for five days.
Investigation and Resort Context
Forensic teams have begun their work at the site, which has been shielded by white screens. Investigators have stated there is currently no indication of arson. The municipality of Crans-Montana, a top-ranked European ski destination with 10,000 residents, had banned New Year's Eve fireworks this year due to a lack of rainfall.
By daylight on New Year's Day, the street where Le Constellation stood was adorned with flowers, candles, and the solemn red and white of police caution tape, as the community and nation began to process the scale of the loss.
