Fire Around 40 dead and 115 injured after fire in bar in Crans-Montana
A fire broke out in a bar in the Valais vacation resort of Crans-Montana, where New Year's Eve was being celebrated, on New Year's Eve. Around 40 people lost their lives. 115 were injured and many suffered serious burns.
01.01.2026, 18:50
SDA
Many of the victims were young people, and many are believed to have traveled from abroad, as the Valais authorities announced over the course of New Year's Day. The circumstances of the fire were unknown on Thursday and a criminal investigation has been opened, according to Valais Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud.
"Answers as quickly as possible"
However, the authorities ruled out an assassination attempt. There are no suspects and accordingly no arrests have been made, Pilloud said in the evening. The purpose of the investigation is to clarify the cause of the catastrophe in the "Le Constellation" bar.
The investigating authorities are doing everything they can to shed light on the background to the disaster, Pilloud emphasized. They want to provide answers "as quickly and as comprehensively as possible" to the numerous questions asked by the families affected.
The public prosecutor's office is pursuing several hypotheses regarding the course of the accident. The main theory is that the entire room caught fire and then exploded. Several witnesses have been questioned; cell phones have also been seized and are now being analyzed.
However, Pilloud made it clear that the priority is to identify the 40 or so fatalities. Certainty must be established as quickly as possible so that the dead can be handed over to their relatives. Nicolas Féraud, mayor of Crans-Montana, referred to the annual security checks in the local pubs.
Pilloud again mentioned the authorities' helpline. This is aimed at families, people with minor injuries and witnesses to the incidents, she said. The emergency number can be reached on 084 811 21 17.
"Terrible time"
Of the 115 injured, 35 had sought hospital care themselves, reported Mathias Reynard, President of the Valais government. Many of the remaining 80 were in a critical condition. 60 people are in hospital in Sion. The hospital is currently holding out thanks to the commitment of the teams and intercantonal assistance.
Numerous injured people were flown to hospitals in the rest of Switzerland. These included hospitals in western Switzerland, as well as Zurich and Bern. Reynard reported that several countries had also agreed to take fire victims from Switzerland to their hospitals.
Identifying the victims will take "some time", said Reynard. This is a "terrible" time for the families affected, he admitted.
Before the media conference, he had met with families of victims together with his government colleague Stéphane Ganzer (FDP) and Béatrice Pilloud. "Many are still waiting for information and are in a state of uncertainty that is humanly unbearable," reported Reynard.
Flags at half-mast
President Guy Parmelin conveyed the condolences of the Federal Council and Parliament to the victims after visiting Crans-Montana in the afternoon to assess the situation. "You are not alone," he told the media on Thursday evening, addressing the victims and their families.
Switzerland will support, care for and accompany the injured with all medical resources. Parmelin paid tribute to the helpers. Their courage, their calm blood and their commitment in the face of the horrific images deserved all recognition.
"Many victims were young, full of hope and dreams," said Parmelin and called for them to be remembered with honor. The drama should not shake Swiss values. Switzerland is sad, but united in its hearts, in pain and in support. The flags at the Federal Palace would be flown at half-mast for five days.
