Crans-Montana is usually the kind of place where the year begins with fireworks, champagne, and the quiet glow of chalet lights on fresh snow. Last night, that glow was replaced by sirens, floodlights, and a long, stunned silence.
Just after 1:30am on New Year’s Day, an explosion was reported at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana (canton Valais), followed by a major fire as crowds were celebrating the start of 2026.
The Sad Toll So Far
Authorities have stated that currently (3rd July) 40 people have died and 115 are in hospital – four of them in intensive care, fighting for their lives
Many have been moved to a range of hospitals around Switzerland as well as abroad in Italy, France, Germany, and even Belgium. Because so many are major burns victims, Switzerland just does not have the specialised capacity to work with such a large number of burn patients.
What Caused The Fire
The forensics team have not released their final report yet, but from what the authorities have said as well as photos and videos, and people on site have reported:
- People were celebrating with sparklers in champagne bottles
- The Cause: Some were holding these very high up (see picture below) and this sparked a fire on the ceiling
- Start Of The Fire: Many acoustic panels (which may not have been completely fireproof) quickly caught fire
- Rapid spread: Fire moved fast across the ceiling, creating intense heat and smoke overhead
- Evacuation chaos: As people realized it wasn’t controllable, there was a rush toward exits; officials say some injuries included broken bones, consistent with a crush/stampede.
- Bottlenecks/trapped victims: Reporting says there was an emergency exit, but the blaze and smoke spread so quickly that a bottleneck formed at the main exit and some people were trapped.
What’s being investigated now
Authorities are scrutinizing renovations and fire-safety compliance: the materials used, exit access, and whether the venue was overcrowded—plus potential criminal liability depending on findings.
Where victims are being treated
Initial intake / regional hospitals (Valais)
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- Many of the most seriously injured were first taken to Hôpital du Valais (Sion), which handled a surge of 55 “severely injured” patients
- Some patients also required operations at Hôpital de Sierre (nearby).
Swiss specialist burn centres (highly specialised care)
- Switzerland’s designated major burn centres are:
- CHUV (Lausanne)
- University Hospital Zurich (USZ)
The Swiss federal government explicitly cites these as the national centres for “grands brûlés.”
- Reported current loads include 22 patients at CHUV and 12 burn patients at USZ (figures from the latest reporting round).
Other Swiss hospitals
- Some patients were taken to Geneva (one report: six patients).
- Valais ICU capacity was stretched early, and patients were moved onward to other Swiss hospitals.
Transfers abroad (because long-term burn capacity is limited)
- Switzerland activated support via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to medically evacuate patients to specialised burn clinics across Europe.
- Example: Belgium confirmed it accepted four patients (and noted privacy limits on naming hospitals).
- Media reporting also describes admissions/transfers to burn units in countries including France and Germany, among others, due to capacity pressures.
What condition victims are in (and who’s still in critical care)
From the latest Valais Hospital update:
- Of 55 severely injured patients received at Sion:
- 13 had been able to go home
- 11 were still hospitalised
- 4 were in intensive care (critical condition)
- 3 were undergoing surgery
- 4 more were in surgery at Sierre Hospital
- 28 total had been transferred to other Swiss or foreign hospitals
A note for anyone in the area
If you’re in or near Crans-Montana today, avoid cordoned-off areas, keep roads clear for emergency vehicles, and follow official updates for safety and to reduce pressure on responders and hospitals.
Also, please be as safe as possible during this time to avoid further load on hospitals.
Crans-Montana is grieving. Switzerland is rallying around it.
