A photograph captured mere moments before disaster shows a waitress, perched on a colleague's shoulders, holding a lit sparkler aloft inside a packed Swiss ski bar. Seconds later, a deadly inferno erupted, claiming at least 47 lives and injuring 115 people during New Year's Eve celebrations.
Chaos in the Basement: A Night of Celebration Turns to Horror
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, January 1, 2026, at the Le Constellation nightclub in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, south-west Switzerland. Around 200 revellers had gathered in the cramped basement venue to ring in the new year.
Witnesses and survivors state the catastrophic blaze began when a sparkler, placed in a champagne bottle, ignited the wooden ceiling. French outlet BFMTV, which received the initial photograph from survivors, reported accounts of a barman carrying a waitress on his shoulders as she held the fateful bottle.
Separate footage from the evening shows a brave partygoer attempting to beat back the initial flames as they raced across the ceiling. Despite his efforts, the fire rapidly became an unstoppable force. It engulfed the crowded basement, raced up the narrow wooden staircase, and triggered explosions so loud residents initially feared a terrorist attack.
Desperate Escape and Harrowing Aftermath
Survivors have recounted scenes of sheer terror inside the smoke-filled club. People were burned, overcome by fumes, and trampled in a desperate stampede to escape via the single, narrow exit. Victoria, a survivor, told BFMTV she believed many victims suffocated. "All the windows were black and opaque with smoke," she said. "Some people smashed windows to let in air. I'm still shaking; many were crying as they left. It was mass panic."
Another witness, Adrien, described a scene reminiscent of a horror movie: "We saw people smashing windows, running and screaming. Parents were racing up in their cars."
The injuries were horrific. Swiss officials warned that identifying the victims, many of whom were young adults and teenagers, would be a slow and painstaking process due to the severity of the burns. Gianni, a witness speaking to Swiss outlet 20 Minuten, described victims with faces "completely disfigured" and hair burned away, their clothes fused to their skin.
International Toll and a Community in Mourning
The tragedy has an international dimension, with guests from across Europe caught in the blaze. Italy has confirmed 47 deaths based on Swiss information, with six Italians still missing and 13 hospitalised. France and Australia have also reported nationals among the missing and injured.
The first victim to be publicly named was 17-year-old Italian golf prodigy Emmanuele Galeppini, who was celebrating his birthday. His death was confirmed by the Italian Golf Federation.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the inferno as "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced." The national flag has been ordered to fly at half-mast for five days. In Crans-Montana, hundreds attended a silent vigil, leaving flowers and candles at a makeshift altar near the cordoned-off bar.
Authorities have opened an investigation, stating the fire appears to be a terrible accident. The focus will include the bar's safety rating—reportedly just 6.5 out of 10—its maximum capacity, and the presence of potentially flammable materials on the ceiling. Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud confirmed no suspects have been arrested, emphasising the probe aims "to better understand the circumstances."
