An explosion followed by a fire tragically marked the start of the year in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais, leaving several dead and many injured during New Year’s Eve.
On the night of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026, around 1:30 a.m., an explosion of unknown origin occurred inside the Le Constellation bar, located in the center of Crans-Montana, a very popular tourist destination. At the time of the incident, more than 100 people were inside celebrating the new year.
The explosion immediately triggered a violent fire, which quickly spread inside the establishment, complicated by the crowds and the confined space of the bar. Emergency services, including cantonal and municipal police, firefighters and several helicopters, were dispatched to the site to try to control the disaster and provide assistance to the victims.
Provisional human toll
At this stage, the Swiss authorities have not yet published a definitive death toll, and the official figures remain partial:
- There Valais cantonal police confirmed that “there are several dead and several injured” without specifying an exact number.
- Local Swiss media report heavier tollssuggesting up to around forty dead And more than a hundred injuredbut these figures are not not yet confirmed by official authorities.
- Other international sources report at least ten deadwith dozens of injured, emphasizing that uncertainty remains until the official toll is published.
Emergency reactions and measures
The police banned access to the area, set up a security zone and a no-fly zone, and set up a helpline for the victims’ families. An official press conference is expected to provide additional information when more data becomes available.
