A New Year’s Eve celebration in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana turned into a tragedy after a massive fire broke out at a crowded bar, leaving dozens feared dead and many more injured.
The blaze erupted around 01:30 local time on Thursday at Le Constellation, a popular bar hosting a New Year party. Swiss police say dozens of people are presumed to have lost their lives, while around 100 others were injured, many suffering severe burns.
An 18-year-old eyewitness, who asked not to be named, told the BBC he rushed toward the bar after hearing a loud explosion and seeing thick smoke. Believing his younger brother was trapped inside, he tried to break a window to help people escape before entering the building himself.
Inside, he described scenes of extreme distress. He said he saw people badly burned, some without any clothes left, calling the experience deeply shocking. His brother was later found to be unharmed.
The young man explained that firefighters and medical teams arrived quickly and took control of the rescue effort, while he tried to assist survivors by offering water and clothing.
Only moments earlier, both locals and tourists had been celebrating the arrival of 2026 during one of the busiest periods of the ski season. Le Constellation is known to accommodate up to 300 people across two floors and a terrace, though authorities have not confirmed how many were inside at the time.
Two French women who were present told French media that the fire may have started when candles were placed on champagne bottles. According to them, flames spread rapidly across the wooden ceiling, filling the room with fire within seconds. They described the evacuation as extremely difficult due to narrow exits and stairways, with hundreds trying to escape almost simultaneously.
Another teenager told the BBC he was blocked by intense heat and smoke and only managed to escape after smashing a window with his foot.
Nearby hospitals quickly became overwhelmed, forcing authorities to transfer some critically injured patients to other facilities, including hospitals in Italy.
Residents and visitors described hearing what sounded like explosions before realizing something was seriously wrong as emergency sirens filled the streets. By Thursday morning, the usually lively resort was quiet, with shock and disbelief hanging over the town.
Italian officials have warned that identifying victims may take weeks due to the severity of the burns. Meanwhile, families and friends anxiously await news of loved ones, as authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the fire.
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