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Deadly Fire Rips Through New Year’s Eve Celebrations at Swiss Ski Resort

By The South Asia Times

CRANS-MONTANA: A devastating blaze tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana, leaving dozens feared dead and around 100 people injured, according to local authorities.

Swiss police said the death toll is in the “tens,” while Italy’s foreign ministry, citing information from Swiss authorities, indicated that up to 40 people may have been killed. Officials have yet to confirm an exact number.

The fire broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. local time at Le Constellation, a popular bar where revellers had gathered to welcome the New Year. The venue, capable of hosting several hundred people, reportedly had around 100 guests inside at the time of the incident, according to AFP and Reuters news agencies.

Authorities in Valais canton said most of the injured are in serious condition. Intensive care units at local hospitals have reached capacity, prompting the transfer of some patients to other facilities. Several victims are believed to be foreign nationals, though their identities and nationalities are still being verified.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as flames engulfed the bar, with people running and screaming in the darkness. Emergency services launched a large-scale rescue operation, deploying dozens of ambulances and helicopters. The resort area has been sealed off, and a temporary no-fly zone has been imposed to support rescue and medical efforts.

While Swiss media have suggested the fire may have been sparked by pyrotechnics used during a concert, police said the cause remains unknown and under investigation. Authorities stressed that the incident is being treated as a fire-related tragedy and not a deliberate attack.

Reacting to the tragedy, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences in a post on X. “Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic fire incident at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year night. Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives, and we pray for the early recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the Swiss Government and the people of Switzerland at this difficult time,” he said.