Switzerland ski resort explosion updates: Multiple New Year revellers killed after huge fire rips through Crans-Montana bar

Officials in Crans-Montana give an update on the fire at a news conference.

Chief Public Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud stated that the alarm went off around 1:30 in the morning.

Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais government, says at the press conference:

This evening was supposed to be a moment of celebration but turned into a nightmare.

Police Commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed there were ‘several dozen’ deaths.

Here’s what we know about the Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana, where a fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Eve.

The venue can accommodate up to 300 people and has a small terrace.

Normal closing time is 2:00 local time; This would be 30 minutes after the fire started.

It’s unclear whether it will remain open later for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

According to BBC correspondent Silvia Costeloe, the bar is an ‘institution’ that has been serving drinkers in Crans-Montana for at least 40 years.

He said:

It’s not a big bar and fancy. But it’s quite a luxury ski resort, there’s a lot of luxury here – it was famous for hosting the Ski World Cup in the 1980s and that’s coming back.

Here are the latest photos we can show you from Crans-Montana, where a massive fire at a luxury ski resort resulted in many deaths.

In the first official statement made after the fire, the police said that an explosion occurred ‘where the location is unknown’.

Gaetan Lathion, police spokesman in the canton of Wallis in southwestern Switzerland, said:

The fire started at around 1.30 this morning in a bar called Le Constellation.

There were over a hundred people in the building and we see many injured and many dead. We are just at the beginning of our research, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with many tourists.

A helpline and reception center has been established for families seeking information about their loved ones.

Swiss police have scheduled a press conference for 9am UK time to give more information.

The fire broke out in a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, a luxury ski resort town in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

It is about two hours away from Switzerland’s capital, Bern, and is popular with British tourists.

Crans-Montana is a major ski resort with 137 kilometers of mountain trails.

The community is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, just 40 kilometers north of the Matterhorn.

It will host the FIS World Cup, a prestigious speed skiing competition, later this month.

At least 10 people died and 10 others were injured in the explosion that occurred at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.

The explosion occurred at Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana at around 1.30 am local time (12.30 GMT).

The tragedy occurred as revelers welcomed the new year in the bar, which is a favorite with tourists.

Footage published on local media showed a building engulfed in flames and nearby emergency services.

There are reports that the explosion may have been caused by fireworks, but police say this has not yet been confirmed.

More than 100 people were inside the building at the time, according to Swiss radio station Rhone FM.

Hello, welcome to our live coverage of the aftermath of a devastating fire at a luxury ski resort in Switzerland.

Swiss authorities say there are ‘several deaths’ but authorities have not yet confirmed the death toll following the fire at the Constellation Bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

The fire broke out at 01.30 local time (12.30 GMT) as people were celebrating the beginning of 2026.

We’ll bring you the latest updates on this developing story.