At Least 40 Dead After New Year Bar Fire in Swiss Ski Resort

At least 40 people were killed and around 115 others injured after a devastating fire tore through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations.

The blaze broke out at around 1.30am on Thursday at Le Constellation, a popular après-ski bar where more than 100 people were gathered. Authorities in the Wallis canton said many of the injured suffered severe burns, with hospitals in the region quickly overwhelmed and forced to declare a state of emergency. Victims were transferred to hospitals across Switzerland and neighbouring countries, including France, Italy and Germany.

Police said identifying the dead could take days or even weeks, noting that the victims are likely to include nationals from several countries due to the resort’s international popularity. Italian and French officials confirmed that some of their citizens were injured or missing.

Swiss authorities stressed that there is no indication of terrorism, with investigators treating the incident as a fire of undetermined origin. Witnesses reported scenes of panic as people tried to escape through smoke-filled rooms, breaking windows to flee.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies the country has experienced, as the resort and the wider nation entered a period of mourning.

#MaltaDaily