A horrific fire that tore through a popular bar in a Swiss ski resort in the early hours of New Year's Day has left at least 40 people dead and around 115 injured, many seriously. The tragedy unfolded at the Constellation Bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, less than two hours after midnight on Thursday, 1 January 2026.
Eyewitness Describes Scene of 'Horrible' Carnage
One man who rushed to the scene after a friend called him from outside the burning bar has provided a chilling account of the aftermath. He described a scene of utter devastation, with people screaming and lying on the ground.
"Outside there were people screaming, and people lying on the ground, I think these people were dead," he told Sky News. "They had jackets over their faces - it was horrible. There were people without hair, because of the burning, and when I went out some people were without clothes."
His testimony paints a graphic picture of the fire's ferocity, with victims suffering severe burns to their bodies and hair.
Survivor Recalls 'Total Chaos' and Desperate Escape
A 16-year-old from Paris who was inside the Constellation Bar when the fire broke out survived the ordeal. He described "total chaos" as the inferno took hold. One of his friends died in the blaze, and several others were initially missing.
The teenager said he did not see the fire start but recalled waitresses arriving with Champagne bottles that had sparklers attached. As the situation deteriorated, he felt he was suffocating. After hiding behind a table, he ran upstairs and managed to smash an acrylic glass window with a table to escape, losing his jacket, shoes, phone, and bank card in the process.
"I am still alive - I’m still in shock," he told reporters in the aftermath.
Investigation into Cause and Ongoing Recovery
Emergency services continued to search the burnt-out shell of the bar on the morning of 2 January. The painstaking work of identifying the victims and determining the exact cause of the fire is ongoing.
Early reports suggest the deadly blaze may have been sparked by a sparkler or flare attached to a champagne bottle, which then ignited the dry wooden ceiling in the bar's basement. This is believed to have caused a "flashover" effect, rapidly engulfing the room in flames.
King Charles III, who has a personal connection to the Swiss Alps having skied there with his sons, issued a statement expressing he was "greatly saddened" by the news. He said it was "utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy."
It is not yet known if any British nationals are among the casualties of the Crans-Montana fire.
