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Deadly Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar Claims 40 Lives, Injures 115

A devastating fire at the "Le Constellation" bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has resulted in at least 40 fatalities and approximately 115 injuries, according to Valais Cantonal Police. The blaze, first reported around 1:30 am, prompted an immediate and large-scale emergency response, with the first teams arriving within minutes and all injured receiving care by 5 am. Authorities have stated that identifying the approximately 40 victims may take several days, prolonging the anguish for grieving families. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed France's solidarity with Switzerland and the victims' families in the wake of the tragedy.

Key Points: Swiss Bar Fire in Crans-Montana: 40 Dead, 115 Injured

  • 40 fatalities confirmed
  • 115 people injured
  • Fire reported around 1:30 am
  • Swift emergency response
  • Victim identification ongoing
2 min read

Swiss bar fire in Crans-Montana claims 40 lives, 115 injured, says police

A non-arson fire at a bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed 40 and injured 115. Emergency services responded swiftly, but victim identification may take days.

"Deep emotion following the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts go to the bereaved families and the injured. - French President Emmanuel Macron"

Bern, January 2

At least 40 people were killed, and around 115 others injured in a non-arson fire at the "Le Constellation" bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, CNN reported the Valais Cantonal Police as saying.

At a press conference in Crans-Montana, Valais Cantonal Police Commander Frederic Gisler on Thursday said that authorities responded swiftly after a fire was reported at a bar in the area.

According to Gisler, smoke was first seen coming from the bar in the centre of the Swiss ski resort at around 1:30 am. Moments later, a witness contacted the emergency call centre to report the incident. A red alert was immediately issued to mobilise firefighting services, he added.

The first teams from the Crans-Montana intercommunal police and the gendarmerie reached the scene at 1:32 am, and were soon joined by additional emergency responders, CNN reported.

"Their initial assignment was obviously to take care of the victims, to provide them emergency help," Gisler said. He noted that firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze quickly. "Following that, the initial investigations were able to start," he said.

Reception centres were later set up to assist those affected by the incident, and a helpline was launched at 4:14 am to provide information and support to families.

"All of the injured people had received care by shortly after 5 am, thanks to this widescale mobilisation," CNN quoted Gisler as saying.

Families of those who lost their lives in the fire at Crans-Montana are facing a painful wait, as local authorities said it could take several days to identify all of the approximately 40 victims, CNN reported.

"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," Gisler said in a press conference.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with the victims' families and the Swiss government over the incident.

"Deep emotion following the fire in Crans-Montana. My thoughts go to the bereaved families and the injured. To Switzerland, to its people and to its authorities, I convey the full solidarity of France and our fraternal support," he stated in a post on X.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Terrible news to start the new year. The response time seems very quick, but the loss is still immense. Makes you think about all the pubs and bars in our own cities. Are they really safe? Fire exits clear? This tragedy should be a wake-up call globally.
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David E
The scale of this is just horrific. 115 injured as well... the emergency services must have been overwhelmed. Setting up a helpline so quickly is commendable. The families having to wait days for identification is the most painful part. Thoughts are with Switzerland.
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Aditya G
A non-arson fire means it was an accident, probably electrical or something. So many young people might have been there enjoying the ski resort. It's a sobering reminder that tragedy can strike anywhere, anytime. Hope the injured recover soon.
S
Sarah B
While the emergency response was swift, a question must be asked about the building's fire safety compliance. Even in a developed country like Switzerland, such a massive loss of life points to a possible failure in prevention. My heart goes out to all affected.
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Karthik V
Om Shanti. Such a tragic incident. It's important to acknowledge the efficient coordination shown by the Swiss authorities - from the red alert to setting up reception centres. There is a lot our own disaster management teams can learn from this, despite the sad context.

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