A New Year's celebration at a popular Swiss ski resort bar turned into a deadly inferno in the early hours of Thursday, leaving dozens of people presumed dead and around 100 injured, many with severe burns.
Chaotic Scenes as Revellers Fled for Their Lives
The fire broke out at approximately 1:30 am local time (12:30 am UK time) on Thursday 1 January 2026 at the Le Constellation bar in the upscale resort of Crans-Montana. Witness Samuel Rapp, who was at a nearby restaurant, described a "horrible" scene of panic as patrons fought to escape the packed venue.
"There were a lot of people at the entry trying to escape. And it was full and people [were] walking on everybody trying to escape," Mr Rapp told Sky News. "A lot of people were screaming trying to escape and I saw a lot of people on the floor."
He reported hearing of an initial explosion before going to investigate. The devastation was immediate and shocking, with Mr Rapp witnessing victims whose hair had been burned off and others who were without clothes. He saw someone place a jacket over a victim's face.
International Crowd Caught in Tragedy
The bar was hosting a young, international crowd celebrating the start of the new year. Mr Rapp stated the patrons were predominantly aged between 16 and 18 and came from across the globe, including many from England and the Netherlands, as well as from around Switzerland itself.
Other witnesses spoke of sheer chaos. One told BFMTV of people smashing windows in a desperate bid to flee the flames, some already gravely injured. A man who watched from across the street compared the sight to a horror movie, describing about 20 people scrambling through smoke and flames.
Panicked parents raced to the scene, desperately seeking news of their children. Leon Christe, a local worker who was among the first on site, administered first aid amidst the carnage. "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."
Community in Shock as Death Toll Feared to Rise
Sky News' Home Editor Jason Farrell, reporting from the cordoned-off scene, said the community was in a state of profound shock. "It's just an absolute shock," he said, noting that people were still waking up to the scale of the tragedy.
While Swiss authorities have yet to confirm a final death toll, the Italian foreign ministry reported that Swiss officials had communicated at least 40 fatalities to them. The number of injured stands at approximately 100, with the majority suffering serious injuries.
Emergency services remain at the location as investigations into the cause of the blaze begin. The incident has cast a dark shadow over the renowned winter sports destination, with the full impact of one of Switzerland's worst nightlife disasters in recent years yet to be fully understood.
