At least 10 people were killed and 10 others injured after a violent fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations, Swiss authorities said on Thursday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning following one or more explosions, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reported. Police have confirmed that the explosion is not being treated as terror-related.
🇨🇭⚡ Several people were ki!!ed and others injured after an explosion tore through a bar in the luxury Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss police say.
— Osint World (@OsiOsint1) January 1, 2026
A cantonal police spokesperson told AFP that the blast was of unknown origin while confirming multiple fatalities. pic.twitter.com/GGbEOvvKrk
Valais cantonal police, known as Wallis in German-speaking regions of Switzerland, said emergency services remain on the scene, with multiple ambulances deployed and Air-Glaciers helicopters mobilised for rescue and evacuation operations. The area has been secured as investigations continue.
“There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesman in the Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland, told AFP. “There are several injured and several dead. The intervention is still ongoing.”
According to police, the explosion occurred at around 1:30 am local time (0030 GMT) at the Le Constellation bar, a popular venue with tourists celebrating the New Year. The bar, which typically operates until 2:00 am, has a capacity of up to 400 people.
RTS reported that the explosion originated in the basement of the establishment and triggered the subsequent fire. A source involved in managing the emergency response described the incident as “a major disaster,” warning that the number of victims could rise. The source compared the scale of the tragedy to the 2012 Sierre bus crash, which claimed 28 lives.
While investigators are not currently treating the incident as a criminal act, authorities have not ruled out an accidental cause. The precise origin of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.
Police have set up a helpline for families seeking information about loved ones, and officials are scheduled to provide further details at a press conference at 10:00 am local time.
The briefing will mark the first public appearance of Frédéric Gisler, who assumed office as commander of the Valais cantonal police on January 1, according to Swiss media.
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