Swiss Police Say Around 40 Killed in Crans-Montana Blast

Rescuers and fire-fighters work at the site of an explosion that ripped through the bar Le Constellation in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026.

Swiss police believe around 40 people were killed and about 100 others injured in a deadly fire that broke out during a New Year’s Eve party at a bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana, according to a statement issued by Italy’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

The ministry said preliminary assessments suggest the blaze was not caused by arson. Due to the severity of the burns suffered by many victims, authorities have been unable to immediately identify the deceased.

Emergency services rushed to the scene as the fire spread rapidly, turning the celebration into one of the deadliest incidents in the area in recent years. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion and subsequent fire.