CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, January 1, 2026 — A fire in a Swiss basement nightclub during New Year’s celebrations killed several dozen people and injured about 100 others early Thursday. Witnesses at the scene suggested pyrotechnic devices may have triggered the massive blaze in the resort town of Crans-Montana.
Valais Canton police commander Frederic Gisler said “several tens of people” were killed at the bar, named Le Constellation. “The community is devastated,” Gisler said following the incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time.
Who Reported the Possible Cause?
An eyewitness near the bar described seeing pyrotechnics that may have started the fire. Melko, 19, told Swiss outlet 24 heures he visited the bar with a friend and claimed to have seen pyrotechnic devices placed on bottles. He alleged these triggered a fire in the ceiling that caught immediately. His account provides the first on-the-ground description of the tragedy’s potential origin.
What Does the Official Investigation Say?
Authorities are urging caution against early conclusions despite witness accounts. Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud has asked the public to “refrain from making assumptions.” “The families are waiting for these answers, but obtaining them will take time,” Pilloud told 24 heures. She noted experts had not yet been able to enter the wreckage to determine the cause, calling it too early for definitive statements.
How Did the Emergency Unfold?
The witness described scenes of panic following the initial fire. A crowd rushed toward the basement room’s exit, which was accessible by stairs leading to a corridor. The location of Le Constellation in a basement, with a single point of egress, complicated the escape as the blaze spread rapidly from the ceiling.
What Is the Current Status for Victims?
Work is now focused on identifying those killed and informing their families. Attorney General Pilloud said this process would take time and that it remained “premature” to give a “precise figure” for the death toll. The scale of the injury count—approximately 100 people—indicates a major emergency response was mobilized at the alpine resort.
FAQs: Crans-Montana Nightclub Fire
Q: What is the death toll from the Switzerland bar fire?
A: Authorities have confirmed “several tens” of fatalities but state it is too early to provide a precise number.
Q: Where exactly did the fire happen?
A: The fire occurred at Le Constellation, a bar located in the basement of a building in Crans-Montana, a resort in Switzerland’s Valais Canton.
Q: Has an official cause been determined?
A: No. The Valais attorney general’s office states the cause is under investigation and it is too early to determine, as experts have not yet examined the interior.
Q: What did witnesses say about the cause?
A: One eyewitness told media he saw pyrotechnic devices on bottles in the bar that allegedly ignited a fire in the ceiling.
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