What we're covering
• Deadly blaze: About 40 people were killed and around 115 others injured in a fire at a New Year’s party in a Swiss ski resort bar, according to police. Authorities said many of the victims were young, and it will take days to identify all of them.
• Alpine haven: One of Switzerland’s most exclusive locales, Crans-Montana is known for sweeping vistas stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.
• Investigation underway: Authorities will be looking into the exact cause of the fire and if safety standards were upheld. Two witnesses told CNN affiliate BFMTV that it was caused by sparklers placed in champagne bottles, but officials say it will take time to determine what started the blaze.
• Scenes of panic: Video from outside Le Constellation bar shows panic in the crowd as the blaze broke out. One witness said he heard screams and saw people lying on the ground in the aftermath.
Swiss teen describes harrowing escape from ski resort fire
Seventeen-year-old Laetitia Place narrowly escaped the blaze at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort.
She spoke to Reuters about what unfolded at Le Constellation bar, saying: “We all saw really horrible things that no one should ever have to see.”
When Place headed downstairs toward the bathroom, she and her friend saw the fire and tried to return upstairs. “I grabbed my friend’s arm, but then I climbed the stairs and I let go,” she said. “Now he’s not answering me anymore.”
Place described the panicked rush to evacuate the bar.
She emphasized how scared she was for herself and everyone at the bar during the deadly inferno, and told Reuters that she has friends who are still hospitalized.
“I was so scared - scared for myself, scared for my friends, scared for everyone inside.”
Arab countries send messages of support following Swiss ski resort fire
Arab countries have expressed their condolences following the deadly fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort.
Egypt expressed its sympathies for the Swiss government and the victims of the tragedy, calling it a “painful humanitarian crisis,” in a statement on its foreign ministry’s website.
Oman’s foreign ministry also extended its condolences on X and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
Jordan expressed its “full solidarity and support” for the Swiss government and people, and extended its condolences to the victims and their families, according to a post by its foreign minister on X.
In photos: Mourners grieve for victims of deadly Crans-Montana fire
People have been gathering near the site of the fire at a Swiss ski resort bar — laying flowers, lighting candles and congregating in church — to mourn the roughly 40 victims of the New Year’s tragedy.
UK's King Charles sends condolences to those affected by "devastating" fire in Switzerland
The United Kingdom’s King Charles III sent a message of condolences to those affected by the fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
“My wife and I were appalled, and greatly saddened, to learn of the devastating fire last night in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland. It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy,” King Charles said in a message to the president of the Swiss Confederation.
Foreign nationals “from multiple countries are likely” to be among the victims, the British embassy in Switzerland said earlier.
Israel offers Switzerland help following ski resort tragedy
Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered condolences and assistance in a call with his Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin following the deadly fire at a bar at a Swiss ski resort.
During the call, Herzog underscored Israel’s experience and “advanced capabilities” for finding and identifying fire victims and treating burn victims, according to the Israeli president’s office.
French soccer player among those injured in fire, club says
Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old trainee soccer player from French soccer club FC Metz was among those injured in the fire at Le Constellation bar, according to a statement from the club.
The player was “severely burned and has been transferred by plane to Germany where he is being treated,” the statement read.
FC Metz, a club competing in France’s main soccer league, added that “the leaders, players, coaches and employees of the club are in shock and unite their thoughts to address them to Tahirys” and that the club is working to enable the player to be repatriated to his home.
Apparent bar promo video from 2024 shows people carrying bottles with sparklers
An apparent promotional video for Le Constellation bar shows women wearing motorcycle helmets and carrying bottles of alcohol topped with sparklers as they walk through the establishment.
The video, which was posted on YouTube in May 2024 by the account @ConstellationCransMontana, is captioned: “Le Constellation Crans-Montana welcomes you every day from 9am to 2am, 365 days per year, without interruption.”
Following the deadly fire on Thursday, two witnesses told CNN affiliate BFMTV that the devastating incident was caused by sparklers placed in champagne bottles.
“There were waitresses carrying champagne bottles with sparklers on them, and they carried them close to the ceiling, which caused it to catch fire,” one eyewitness said.
“One waitress was standing on another waiter’s shoulders, and the bottle and the flames were just a few centimeters away from the ceiling,” the other reveler added.
Authorities said Thursday evening that it was too early to determine what exactly started the fire and that the investigation will take time.
When questioned by a journalist at a news conference about the origin of the fire, Valais canton Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud said she could not comment on reports that a sparkler was the ignition source and that it was too early to determine exactly what started the fire.
CNN has asked Le Constellation for comment on the cause of the fire and the purported use of sparklers.
Mourners light candles hours after Switzerland ski resort tragedy
People gathered on New Year’s Day to lay flowers and light candles after a tragedy struck revelers at a popular Switzerland ski resort in Crans-Montana.
Many families are still waiting to find out the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Police say at least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when the fire broke out at the resort bar around 1:30 a.m. local time.
Here’s what we know after a fire killed around 40 people and injured scores more
Officials are learning more about the deadly fire which killed around 40 people and left scores of others injured.
Here’s what we know so far:
- What happened: Smoke was first noticed coming out of Le Constellation bar at 1:30 a.m. local time, according to Valais Cantonal Police Commander Frédéric Gisler. A few seconds later, a witness contacted the emergency call center to report the fire. A red alert was immediately sent to mobilize the fire service, Gisler said. According to witnesses, the fire caused an “explosion,” a state council member said.
- Response: Authorities responded within minutes of a fire being reported, Gisler said. Ten helicopters and 40 ambulances were mobilized to attend to the incident, Swiss authorities said. In addition, 150 medical personnel were mobilized, according to Reynard.
- Victims: Gisler said “about 40” people have died in the fire and 115 were injured, many of them severely. Foreign nationals “from multiple countries are likely” to be among the victims, according to the British embassy in Switzerland. The high injury toll has overwhelmed the local medical system in the Valais canton, with patients being transported to hospitals across the country and abroad. Valais State Council President Mathias Reynard said the identification of all the victims could “take several days.”
- Where it happened: Le Constellation is situated within a luxury ski resort in Crans-Montana. It has a capacity of 300 people with a terrace space for 40, according to a description of the bar on the resort’s official website. It is unclear which part of the bar was affected by the fire. Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most exclusive locales, is famed for its year-round sunshine and is situated 1,500 meters above sea level.
- Reaction: Guy Parmelin, president of the Swiss Confederation, called the fire “a tragic loss” and “one of the worst tragedies” the country has experienced as he offered his condolences to victims and their families. French President Emmanuel Macron also offered his condolences to the bereaved and said Switzerland has “full solidarity and support” from France. Macron spoke with Parmelin today to express this. The US Embassy in the Swiss capital Bern said it is “deeply saddened by the tragic fire.” The French couple who owns Le Constellation said they are “completely in shock,” according to CNN affiliate BFMTV, citing a source close to the case.
CNN’s Laura Sharman, Alex Stambaugh, Martin Goillandeau, Sophie Tanno, Ivana Kottasová, Camille Knight, Charlotte Reck, Lauren Chadwick, Mitchell McCluskey contributed reporting.
As an investigation into the deadly fire is underway, here’s what officials say they will focus on
Investigators are seeking answers to a host of questions regarding the deadly fire at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year’s Day.
Here’s what they’ll focus on:
- Cause of the fire: Béatrice Pilloud, attorney general of the Valais canton, said it is too soon to determine the cause of the fire at the bar Le Constellation. Officials are not treating the incident as a terror attack.
- Early allegations: Some witnesses earlier told media outlets, including CNN affiliate BFMTV, that the fire broke out after champagne bottles topped with sparklers were carried too close to the ceiling of the bar. But when asked about this during a news conference today, Pilloud maintained that it is still too early to determine what exactly started the fire.
- No arrests: Pilloud said no arrests have been made in connection to the blaze, adding that the opened investigation is to determine the cause of the fire and not into any particular individuals.
- People inside the bar: Swiss authorities do not know how many people were inside the bar at the time of the fire. Pilloud said that questions around the capacity of the venue will be part of the investigation.
- Questions around safety: Pilloud also said that the investigation will include whether safety standards were being met. “Concerning the narrowness of the stairs … the investigation will also determine if all the safety standards were complied with or if it wasn’t the case,” she said.
CNN’s Ivana Kottasová, Martin Goillandeau and Charlotte Reck contributed reporting.
Macron speaks with Swiss president "to express our solidarity" after deadly ski resort fire
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with the President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin to express France’s solidarity after a fire killed dozens at a Swiss ski resort.
“The toll is devastating. Our thoughts are with the families,” Macron wrote on X.
France’s hospitals are receiving injured people, and diplomatic teams are monitoring the situation to provide assistance to French nationals, Macron said.
Authorities do not know the exact number of people inside the bar when fire started
Swiss authorities do not know how many people were inside Le Constellation bar when the deadly fire started there.
Speaking to reporters, Attorney General of the Valais Canton Beatrice Pilloud said that questions around the capacity of the venue will be part of the investigation.
Asked if the authorities knew how many people were in the bar, Pilloud said the number was unknown.
Officials say it's too early to say if sparklers caused the fire
Asked about the allegation that the deadly fire at Le Constellation bar was caused by champagne bottles with sparklers on them, the Valais Canton Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said it was too early to determine what exactly started the fire.
Pilloud said that no arrests have been made in connection to the blaze. She added that an investigation had been opened to determine the cause of the fire, but that it was not into any particular individuals.
Some witnesses earlier told media outlets including CNN affiliate BFMTV that the fire broke out after champagne bottles topped with sparklers were carried too close to the ceiling of the bar.
"Significant number" of injured in "critical" condition
People injured in the devastating fire in Crans-Montana are being treated in hospitals across the country, according to Mathias Reynard, the president of the State Council of the Valais canton.
He said that 115 people were injured in the fire, with a “significant number of them” classified as “critical.”
The head of the canton said 80 people were treated by the emergency services and taken to hospital, while 35 people came to hospitals on their own.
Reynard said 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters and three disaster trucks were deployed to the scene.
He said that 60 people were being treated in the local hospital in Sion, while others were transferred to other medical centers around the country, including its two specialist major burns centers in Lausanne and Zurich.
Police responded to fire in Swiss ski resort within minutes, commander says
Authorities responded within minutes of a fire being reported at a bar in Crans-Montana, Valais Cantonal Police Commander Frédéric Gisler said at a press conference on Thursday.
Smoke was first noticed coming out of Le Constellation bar in the center of the Swiss ski resort at 1:30 a.m., Gisler said.
A few seconds later, a witness contacted the emergency call center to report the fire.
A red alert was immediately sent to mobilize the fire service, Gisler said.
The first officers from the Crans-Montana intercommunal police and the gendarmerie arrived at the scene at 1:32 a.m. and were soon supported by a “significant” response from other emergency authorities.
“Their initial assignment was obviously to take care of the victims, to provide them emergency help,” Gisler said.
The firefighters “quickly” put out the fire, he said.
“Following that, the initial investigations were able to start,” he said.
Reception centers were opened to provide care to the victims of the blaze and a helpline was set up at 4:14 a.m. to provide information and support to the affected families.
All of the injured people had received care by shortly after 5 a.m., “thanks to this widescale mobilization,” Gisler said.
It will take days to identify all victims, authorities warn
Families of those who have perished in the fire at Crans-Montana are bracing themselves for agonizing wait after the local authorities said it could “take several days” to identify all of the 40 or so victims.
“Currently and in the days to come, the priority will be identifying the people who have died so that their bodies can be returned quickly to their families,” Fréderic Gisler, commander of the Valais Cantonal Police, said at the news conference.
Mathias Reynard, president of the State Council, said:
Attorney General of the Valais Canton Beatrice Pilloud, meanwhile, added that “significant resources” were being allocated to the effort to identify all of the victims as soon as possible.
Concerning the investigation, Pilloud also said that it will include whether safety standards were met.
“Concerning the narrowness of the stairs … the investigation will also determine if all the safety standards were complied with or if it wasn’t the case,” she said.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Police: About 40 dead and 115 injured, many severely
Frédéric Gisler, the commander of the Valais Cantonal Police, said that “about 40” people have died in the fire and 115 were injured, many of them severely.
Speaking to reporters, he called the fire in Crans-Montana an “unprecedented tragedy,” and said police were working hard to identify the deceased victims.
The president of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, said that many of the victims were young people. He told the press conference that “behind these numbers are faces, names, families, destinies brutally interrupted.”
“I would like to address the young people of our country as many of the victims were (young) themselves,” Parmelin said. “Full of plans, hope and dreams.”
This post has been updated with additional information.
Swiss president thanks international community for solidarity
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin expressed gratitude to the international community for its support after dozens were killed in a New Year’s fire at a ski resort.
During a news conference, Parmelin thanked Switzerland’s neighboring countries — France, Germany, and Italy — whose leaders contacted Switzerland, he said.
Parmelin said that he wanted to communicate to those affected that the Swiss people “shares your grief with respect and sympathy.”
He added that Switzerland is “united in grief and solidarity” over the disaster.
Crans-Montana fire is "one of the worst tragedies" that country has been through, Swiss president says
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin called the Crans-Montana ski resort fire “one of the worst tragedies” that the country has experienced.
On his first day in office as president of the council, Parmelin said he expected to deliver a different message on New Year’s Day.
He expressed “sincere condolences” to those impacted.
Fire left "several dozen" dead, region's head says
“Several dozen” people were killed in the fire and explosion at Crans-Montana, the Valais State Council President Mathias Reynard announced at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.
He said the identification of the victims will take time – calling this a “terrible time” for families waiting to hear about their loved ones.
