Death toll nears 40 as investigators probe cause of Swiss New Year’s fire

Swiss authorities are continuing investigations into the deadly New Year’s Day fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, where around 40 people were killed and at least 115 injured, many of them seriously.

The blaze broke out shortly after 1.30am at ‘Le Constellation’ during what is typically one of the busiest nights of the Alpine holiday season. Victims were transported to hospitals across Switzerland, with specialist burn units in Italy also assisting.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country’s history, while police confirmed the fire is not being treated as an attack.

Officials say identifying the victims may take weeks due to the severity of the burns, with several nationalities believed to be among the dead and injured. The exact number of fatalities is not yet known, but British state media reported the figure at “around 40”.

Survivors have described how flames spread rapidly through the largely wooden interior, while narrow stairways and exits made evacuation extremely difficult.

Witness accounts suggest the fire may have started after a candle ignited the ceiling, though investigators say the cause has not yet been confirmed.Authorities are examining whether safety requirements were met and how such a fast-moving fire could prove so devastating on a night when the bar was likely crowded with locals and tourists welcoming the new year.