Swiss authorities face a heartbreaking mission after a devastating New Year’s Eve fire tore through the crowded Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, claiming dozens of lives and injuring more than a hundred people. What was meant to be a night of celebration in the famed ski resort turned into one of the country’s most tragic modern disasters.
Officials say the intensity of the blaze left many victims severely burned, complicating efforts to formally identify those who died. The majority of those present were young people gathered to welcome the new year, friends and families now waiting in anguish for news.
Parents have issued desperate appeals for information about their missing loved ones, while foreign embassies coordinate to determine whether their citizens were among the victims. Authorities emphasized that identifying every person is their highest priority and will take time.
Crans-Montana’s mayor, Nicolas Feraud, explained that the “first objective is to assign names to all the bodies,” acknowledging the process may take several days. Specialists are working with dental records and DNA analysis to ensure absolute certainty before notifying families.
“Information of this gravity must be 100 percent confirmed,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais cantonal government, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding every announcement.
Italy and France have reported missing nationals, while Australia confirmed that one of its citizens was injured. Swiss authorities said about 40 lives were lost, while Italian officials cited a higher figure based on updates they had received. More than one hundred people were injured, with several still hospitalized and some already repatriated.
Authorities cautioned that both the final death toll and the full list of names will only be released once the painstaking identification process is complete.
Cause under investigation
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Early accounts suggest the fire may have begun in the basement area, possibly when decorative sparkling candles came into contact with the ceiling. Officials stressed there is currently no indication of an attack and that the incident appears accidental.
The disaster has shaken Crans-Montana, a resort known for its ski slopes and golf courses, where many residents personally knew someone affected. Vigils have formed, hundreds gathering in silence to mourn as national flags fly at half-mast across Switzerland.
People have laid flowers and candles near the site, embracing one another in shared grief. Behind police cordons, recovery and identification work continues around the clock.
Survivors described flames spreading incredibly fast. Some locals said they narrowly avoided attending the party themselves. Seventeen-year-old Elisa Sousa shared that she had planned to go but stayed home with family instead — a decision she now reflects on with disbelief and gratitude for her mother’s insistence.
