Regional Government Head Mathias Rénard said: "This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare.
11:58, Thu, Jan 1, 2026 Updated: 12:01, Thu, Jan 1, 2026
Police officers and rescuers stand next to a firefighters vehicle on the site of an explosion that r (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Investigators in the Swiss Alps are focusing on witness accounts of indoor pyrotechnics as the primary cause of a catastrophic New Year’s Eve fire that has left dozens dead and approximately 100 injured. The blaze erupted in the early hours of Thursday at Le Constellation, a popular underground bar and nightclub in the luxury resort of Crans-Montana.
Police Commander Frederic Gisler stated at a press conference on Thursday: “We are devastated. Several tens of people are presumed dead, though work is still underway to identify the victims and inform their families. It is premature to give a more precise figure at this time.”
Head of the Department of Social Affairs and Culture Mathias Reynard (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Race details, team updates, results and opinion plus selected offers and competitions Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud clarified the nature of the investigation: “Experts have not yet been able to enter the wreckage safely. While an investigation into the cause has begun with support from the Zurich Forensic Institute, I must stress that at no moment is there a question of any kind of attack.”
An anonymous survivor described the moments before the ignition to broadcaster BFM TV: “During the evening, a waiter climbed onto another waiter's shoulders.
"He was holding a birthday candle, which was very close to the ceiling, and [the ceiling] caught fire in a couple of minutes."
Another woman said: "The staircase leading out of the nightclub was extremely narrow. There was a huge surge in the crowd. We managed to escape just in time."
Regional Government Head Mathias Renard summarised the tragedy: “This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare.
Flowers are laid in the area where the fire broke out (Image: AP)
"The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theatre at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity.”
Fire officials on the scene categorised the disaster as an embrasement généralisé. This technical term describes a total flashover where combustible gases released by a localised fire ignite simultaneously, causing the entire room to be engulfed in a violent, rapid explosion of flame.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who assumed the rotating presidency today, issued a statement on social media: “Our thoughts go to the victims, to the injured and their relatives, to whom we address our sincere condolences.” Out of respect for the families, the President has postponed his traditional New Year’s Day address to the nation.
Local authorities have established a no-fly zone over Crans-Montana to facilitate the continuous rotation of medical helicopters. The resort town remains cordoned off as recovery efforts continue, marking a somber start to a year in which the region is scheduled to host the World Cup ski events.
4 hours ago
4
English (US) · 