New Year Horror in Swiss Alps: Deadly Blast Tears Through Crans-Montana Bar, Scores Feared Dead
A festive New Year’s Eve turned into a scene of devastation in the early hours of Thursday after a powerful explosion ripped through Le Constellation, a popular bar in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, leaving dozens feared dead and more than a hundred injured, according to initial police accounts cited by Reuters.
The blast occurred at around 1:30 am local time (00:30 GMT), when New Year celebrations were at their peak, and the bar was packed with revelers.
Authorities said over a hundred people were inside the premises at the time of the incident.
Emergency services rushed to the scene as flames engulfed the building, with unverified videos circulating on social media showing a raging fire and panicked crowds fleeing the area.
Swiss police moved swiftly to seal off the resort, cordoning off the entire zone and imposing a temporary no-fly restriction over Crans-Montana to allow emergency and rescue operations to proceed unhindered.
A massive response involving firefighters, ambulances, and security forces continued through the night as rescuers searched for survivors and assisted the injured.
Police spokesperson Gaëtan Lathion confirmed the scale of the tragedy, saying authorities were “seeing many injured and many dead,” while stressing that the situation was still evolving.
A reception center and a dedicated helpline have been established for families desperately seeking information about their loved ones.
Cause Still Unknown
While Swiss daily Blick reported that the fire may have been triggered by fireworks set off during a New Year’s Eve concert, police have urged caution, stating that the cause of the explosion remains unknown.
“We’re just at the beginning of our investigation,” Lathion said, underlining that all possibilities are being examined.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Switzerland and beyond, particularly given Crans-Montana’s reputation as an internationally renowned destination that attracts tourists from across Europe and the world during the winter season.
Located about two hours from the Swiss capital Bern, Crans-Montana is known for its high-end hotels, nightlife, and alpine events.
The resort is also scheduled to host a major speed skiing event — the FIS World Cup — later this month, raising questions about the broader impact of the disaster on upcoming international fixtures.
As daylight breaks over the Alps, investigators continue to comb through the charred remains of Le Constellation, while families and friends wait anxiously for official casualty confirmations.
What was meant to be a night of celebration has instead become one of the darkest chapters in the resort’s history.
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