Around 40 Dead and at Least 115 Injured Following New Year’s Fire at Ski Resort Bar, Police Say

New details have emerged after a devastating fire tore through a bar at a Swiss ski resort in the early hours of New Year’s Day, turning a night of celebration into one of the country’s deadliest recent tragedies.

Authorities now say that around 40 people were killed and at least 115 others injured, many of them severely, after a fire broke out during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. Officials believe the blaze triggered an explosion inside the crowded venue.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 1, police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the updated casualty figures, noting the scale of the injuries and the complexity of the rescue operation. Regional council leader Mathias Reynard added that many victims suffered serious burns and that identifying those who died would take time. Officials also said some of the victims are from outside Switzerland.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said officials were not confirming reports that champagne bottles with flares were used inside the bar, stressing that no conclusions have been reached. The leading theory, she said, is that a general fire led to a rapid conflagration. There are currently no suspects, and no arrests have been made.

Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, attended the press conference and described the incident as “a drama of unknown scale,” according to a translation. He said authorities are working to determine exactly what happened. Earlier in the day, Parmelin wrote on X that what began as a moment of joy had turned into a tragedy felt across the country and beyond, adding that the Federal Council’s thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families.

Le Constellation is a popular bar among tourists, and the impact has extended beyond Switzerland. The Italian Foreign Ministry told the BBC that 16 Italian nationals are currently missing and up to 15 have been injured, three of whom are suffering from severe burns.

In an earlier statement, the Cantonal Police of Valais said the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time, when a fire of undetermined origin broke out at the bar. Large numbers of police officers, firefighters and rescue personnel were dispatched immediately to assist victims and secure the area.

Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos and horror. One man told BBC News that he heard a loud explosion followed by thick smoke. Believing his younger brother might be inside, he said he tried to break a window to help people escape and described seeing people severely burned. “It was very shocking,” he said, adding that he frequented the bar regularly and happened not to be there that night.

Two other eyewitnesses, Emma and Albane from France, told BFMT, via the BBC, that the ceiling of the bar caught fire within seconds. They said the venue was largely made of wood, allowing flames to spread rapidly. Escaping, they said, was extremely difficult due to narrow exits and stairways, with an estimated 200 people trying to flee in less than a minute. “We were very lucky,” they said.

Police have stated there is no indication that the incident was a terrorist attack, according to The Guardian, and authorities have confirmed it was not caused by an explosive device. Pilloud, who is also the prosecutor-general of Valais canton, said an investigation is underway to identify the circumstances that led to what she described as a dramatic and unprecedented situation.

The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue to account for victims and determine the cause of the fire.