CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Several people were killed and others injured after an explosion and fire tore through a bar in the luxury Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana early Monday, Swiss police said.
A police spokesman for Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland said the blast was of unknown origin and occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Irish time). The incident struck Le Constellation, a popular nightspot, as revelers marked the New Year.
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Authorities said there were “several injured, and several dead.” They did not immediately disclose exact casualty figures or the nationalities of the victims, and no details were provided on the condition of those taken for treatment.
More than 100 people were inside the venue when the explosion occurred, Swiss outlet Blick reported, citing police. Officials did not immediately confirm that number.
Emergency services responded to the scene in the resort town, known for high-end hotels and winter sports, as firefighters worked to control the blaze and secure the site. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation, and police said it was too early to determine what triggered it.
Le Constellation sits in a destination that typically swells with holiday travelers, with Crans-Montana’s nightlife and après-ski scene at full tilt for New Year’s festivities. The popular bar is frequented by tourists and seasonal workers, many of whom had gathered to ring in 2025 when the blast occurred.
Local authorities provided no immediate information about potential structural damage to nearby buildings or the broader impact on resort operations. There was also no initial indication of how many people were able to evacuate the bar before the fire spread.
Police appealed for patience as investigators began collecting witness accounts and forensic evidence to establish what happened inside the venue and whether any mechanical or other factors were involved. The Wallis canton spokesman emphasized that the origin of the explosion remains unknown.
Crans-Montana, in the canton of Valais (Wallis in German), is one of Switzerland’s best-known ski resorts, drawing international visitors for winter sports, luxury shopping and mountain scenery. New Year’s celebrations typically bring large crowds across the resort’s bars and clubs, making the early-morning timing of the explosion especially perilous.
Authorities were expected to release further updates on casualty figures and the status of the investigation as more information becomes available.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
