The euphoric celebrations of the new year were cut short in the early hours of Thursday as a catastrophic fire tore through Le Constellation, an elite subterranean bar in the prestigious Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. The venue, a magnet for young tourists from across Europe, was transformed from a site of revelry into a tomb within mere minutes. For many who had travelled to the Valais Alps to toast to the future, the dawn of 2026 was a light they would never see.
The disaster struck at approximately 1:30 am. According to eyewitness accounts, the fire may have been triggered by a high-risk service ritual. Two patrons described a scene where a bartender hoisted a colleague onto his shoulders; she was reportedly holding a champagne bottle fitted with a lit pyrotechnic flare. When the pair moved too close to the low-slung timber ceiling, the decorative wood ignited instantly. Other survivors suggested that embers from shisha pipes might have been the primary catalyst. Regardless of the spark, the subterranean nature of the bar created a lethal “chimney effect” as the flames took hold.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival
The speed of the fire’s progression left little room for an orderly evacuation. As the ceiling became a sheet of flame, thick, black smoke choked the air. Social media footage revealed a harrowing scene: guests scrambling for the exits while the house music continued to blare, a surreal soundtrack to the unfolding horror. Some tried to stifle the flames with their jumpers, but the fire was already uncontrollable.
“The entire roof went up in seconds,” recalled Emma and Alban, two survivors from France. “It was instantaneous; there was no time to think.” The narrow staircase leading to the surface became a site of carnage as hundreds of panicked revellers attempted to flee. Trapped in the darkness, some used furniture to smash through thick glass windows in a desperate bid for oxygen, while others were trampled in the crush.
Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, described a terrifying battle for breath before managed to find a gap in a shattered glass partition. Outside, the scene was one of absolute trauma. Emergency responders found survivors with horrific burns, their clothing entirely incinerated by the intense radiant heat.
Casualties and Emergency Mobilisation
| Category | Official Data |
| Confirmed Fatalities | Approximately 40 |
| Confirmed Injuries | 115 (many in critical condition) |
| Emergency Response | 40 Ambulances, 10 Helicopters |
| National Mourning | 5 days of flags at half-mast |
| Investigation Status | Ongoing (No evidence of foul play) |
National Tragedy and Grief
The humanitarian response was massive. Forty ambulances and ten rescue helicopters worked through the night to transport the wounded to specialist burns units. Local resident Samuel Rapp described a grim scene outside the venue, where bodies were laid out on the snow-covered ground, their faces respectfully covered with jackets by grieving onlookers.
On Thursday afternoon, Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited the site, where forensic teams were painstakingly working behind white screens to identify the victims. The President remarked that a night that began with “plans, hopes, and dreams” had ended in national mourning. In response to the scale of the loss, the Swiss government has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for five days.
Local police official Friedrich Gissler has confirmed that the incident is being treated as a tragic accident rather than sabotage. However, the sheer scale of the casualty list has prompted a nationwide debate regarding fire safety regulations for alpine nightlife venues, particularly those located underground.