40 Dead in New Year’s Eve Fire at Swiss Resort Bar

News Desk 

Swiss : A devastating fire swept through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a Swiss ski resort, killing around 40 people and leaving at least 115 others seriously injured, Swiss authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The blaze broke out late on December 31 at Le Constellation, a popular nightlife venue in Crans-Montana, a resort town in the canton of Valais. Emergency services described the incident as one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland in recent decades.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said the nation was “in shock” following the disaster, noting that many of the victims were young people who had gathered to welcome the New Year.

Police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed that approximately 40 people lost their lives, while at least 115 sustained injuries, many of them critical. Earlier reports had cautioned that casualty figures were still being verified.

The injured were transferred to hospitals across Switzerland, including medical facilities in Sion, Lausanne, Bern, Geneva, and Zurich. Authorities said neighbouring countries—France, Germany, and Italy—have offered assistance and are prepared to admit burn victims requiring specialised treatment.

Officials also confirmed that the victims included people of multiple nationalities, as the resort was hosting both Swiss citizens and foreign visitors at the time of the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud said several hypotheses are being examined, though preliminary findings suggest the incident was accidental rather than deliberate.