Explosive fire kills multiple people at Swiss Alps bar during New Year’s celebrations
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An explosive fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps killed dozens of people and injured at least 100 others during New Year’s celebrations, police said.
The blaze happened in the Alpine ski resort municipality of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, police said.
“The fire started around 1:30 a.m. this morning in a bar called ‘Le Constellation,'” police spokesperson Gaëtan Lathion said. “More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead.”
Swiss police later said “several tens of people” are presumed dead and that around 100 people had been injured – many of them seriously. Authorities could not immediately provide more precise casualty figures.
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Rescuers and firefighters work at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. (MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty Images)
Investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire, police said.
The Valais Canton attorney general said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire, but authorities have ruled out terrorism.
“We’re just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists,” Lathion said.
A police officer walks near ambulances at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. (MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty Images)
The number of injured overwhelmed medical resources, with the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital reaching full capacity. Victims were transferred to other nearby hospitals, officials said.
A reception center and helpline have been established for impacted families, Lathion said.
Rescuers are seen at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. (MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty Images)
Authorities urged local residents and visitors to exercise caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain emergency medical services during the busy ski season.
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The community is in the heart of the Swiss Alps, about 25 miles north of the Matterhorn.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
