Emergency personnel work at the site of the explosion at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. Photo: ReutersAbout 40 people were killed and 115 injured when a fire ripped through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, officials say. The head of the local canton's police, Frederic Gisler, said about 40 people were presumed to be dead and 115 were injured, most of them seriously. The most likely scenario at present is that a widespread fire caused an explosion," she told a press conference. Video footage showed lines of ambulances queuing and helicopters landing to take victims to nearby hospitals and specialist burns units in other Swiss cities, including Lausanne and Zurich.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 01, 2026 19:26 UTC