Switzerland Declares Five Days of Mourning After Deadly New Year’s Eve Resort Fire That Killed 40 People.
Authorities also said around 115 people were also injured in the fire that broke out during New Year's celebrations in the municipality of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
Switzerland has announced five days of national mourning following a devastating and “unprecedented” fire that tore through a crowded New Year’s Eve bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, killing around 40 people and injuring at least 115 others who had gathered to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the tragedy as one of the darkest moments in the country’s modern history, calling it “a trauma without precedent.” Speaking publicly, Parmelin paid tribute to the many young victims whose lives were suddenly cut short. “This was a disaster of unimaginable scale,” he said, adding that countless dreams, plans, and futures were extinguished in the flames.
The president stressed that Switzerland owed it to the victims—and to their families—to ensure such a catastrophe could never be repeated. “These young people had their whole lives ahead of them,” he said. “Their hopes were brutally interrupted.”
Fire Erupts in Early Morning Hours
According to eyewitness accounts, the fire broke out shortly after 1:30am inside Le Constellation bar, a popular nightlife spot in the resort. Witnesses told French broadcaster BFMTV that the blaze may have been triggered when sparklers or flares were placed into champagne bottles during the celebration.
Two women described seeing a bartender carrying a female colleague who was holding one of the bottles moments before flames erupted. Fire quickly spread to the ceiling, and within seconds the venue was engulfed.
The blaze rapidly descended into the basement nightclub, where hundreds of people—many of them teenagers—were packed tightly together. Survivors described scenes of chaos as revellers attempted to flee through a narrow staircase, triggering a deadly surge as people fought desperately to escape smoke and flames.
Vigil Held as Families Await News
On Thursday evening, hundreds of residents and visitors gathered in freezing temperatures for a silent vigil. Flowers were laid and candles lit in memory of the victims. Many in attendance were anxiously waiting for news of loved ones still missing or fighting for their lives in hospital.
Sixteen-year-old Ulysse Brozzo, a ski instructor at a local school, said several of his friends had been inside the bar when the fire broke out. While he had managed to contact some who survived, others remained unaccounted for. One acquaintance, he said, was in a coma at Sion hospital.
“It’s a total tragedy,” Brozzo said quietly. “There were hundreds of people inside.”
Harrowing Footage Emerges
Videos shared online by survivors showed flames rapidly spreading above the bar area. Other footage captured chilling scenes outside the building, with thick orange flames pouring from a ground-floor lounge and several people lying motionless on the street as emergency responders rushed to assist.
Valais canton prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said investigators were working to determine the exact cause of the inferno. She declined to confirm reports suggesting candles were responsible. “An investigation is underway,” she said. “It will establish precisely what happened.”
Pilloud confirmed that the staircase leading to the basement was extremely narrow but said it was too early to assess whether emergency exits were adequate or whether safety regulations had been breached.
Massive Emergency Response
Valais police commander Frédéric Gisler said emergency services were alerted at 1:30am, with officers arriving on the scene just two minutes later. He described the incident as “unprecedented” and said a red alert was immediately declared.
Multiple firefighting units were deployed, alongside 42 ambulances and 13 helicopters. “The priority was to care for the victims and transport them to hospitals,” Gisler said. “At the same time, firefighters worked to secure the site.”
Injured survivors were transported to hospitals across Switzerland, including facilities in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich. Speaking on his first day as Switzerland’s new head of state, Parmelin said many survivors had sustained severe injuries, including extensive burns and serious lung damage from smoke inhalation.
Lausanne University Hospital confirmed it was treating 22 patients between the ages of 16 and 26. Hospital director Claire Charmet said eight of those patients required resuscitation upon arrival and were now receiving critical, highly specialised care.
“This will be a long and demanding recovery,” Charmet said. “It could take weeks, even months.”
Identification Efforts and International Impact
Authorities are now facing the grim process of identifying the victims, including collecting DNA samples from relatives. Many of those caught in the fire were tourists visiting the resort from neighboring countries.
Italy’s foreign ministry reported that 16 Italian nationals were missing and 12 had been injured. France confirmed that eight French citizens were unaccounted for and said it could not rule out that French nationals were among the dead.
A Popular Resort Shaken
Crans-Montana is a vibrant resort town of roughly 10,000 residents, perched high in the Valais canton with sweeping views of the Matterhorn. Known for its ski slopes, luxury shopping, and Michelin-starred restaurants, the resort typically attracts wealthy European visitors.
Unlike nearby Verbier, which draws a predominantly anglophone elite, Crans-Montana is frequented largely by European tourists. Le Constellation, however, stood apart from the area’s luxury image. It was known as an affordable, casual venue popular with younger crowds.
Brozzo said the bar spanned two levels, with a main-floor bar and a basement nightclub accessed by narrow stairs—conditions that may have made escape difficult once smoke filled the space. He added that shisha pipes were available at the venue, noting speculation that hot charcoal may have played a role in igniting the fire.
Possible Flashover Phenomenon
Swiss officials described the blaze as an embrasement généralisé, a firefighting term referring to a sudden ignition of combustible gases. In English, the phenomenon is known as a flashover or backdraft—events that can cause fires to spread explosively and leave little chance for escape.
Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais canton, said what should have been a joyful celebration had turned into horror. “This night was supposed to be one of happiness,” he said at a press conference. “Instead, it became a nightmare.”
Questions Surrounding the Venue
Le Constellation, which opened in 2015, reportedly had capacity for up to 300 people indoors and another 40 on a heated terrace. Its social media accounts have since been taken down.
A shop owner whose business sits directly across the street said the bar was a common gathering place for teenagers, including children of her friends. She claimed underage drinking was not uncommon.
Seventeen-year-old François, also a ski instructor, said New Year’s Eve events were often loosely monitored. “Those nights were known for being more relaxed about age checks,” he said.
Authorities Urge Caution
As the region remains crowded with winter tourists, authorities have urged visitors and residents to exercise caution in the days ahead. Medical services, officials warned, are already under immense strain.
Emergency responders continue to work around the clock as Switzerland mourns one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in its recent history.