At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
Tajani, speaking to Sky TG24, said identifying the victims will be “particularly complex and will take time.” He added that some injured Italians have already been transferred to Milan. Six Italians are reported missing, and 13 remain hospitalised, according to Italian authorities citing Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado.
Swiss authorities have so far confirmed around 40 deaths and about 115 injuries, most of them severe, noting that numbers remain provisional as identification continues. Officials warned the process may take several days due to the condition of the bodies, and that foreign nationals could be among the victims.
The blaze began shortly after midnight at Le Constellation bar, where around 200 people were celebrating, many aged 15 to 20. Eyewitnesses said panic erupted as people tried to escape through windows, and some injured revellers ran into the streets. Two French women reported that birthday candles on champagne bottles ignited the ceiling, and the fire spread rapidly.
Emergency services deployed approximately 150 responders, 42 ambulances, 13 helicopters, and three disaster-response vehicles. The injured were transferred to hospitals across Switzerland, with several patients admitted to specialised burn units.
Belgium announced it will take in seven patients and send a specialised medical team to support Swiss authorities. Five patients with severe trauma and two requiring mid-care will be treated in Belgian hospitals, according to Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. The team will include a leader, two doctors, and two nurses specialising in major burns.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France is receiving injured individuals in its hospitals and stands ready to provide further assistance. He added that French diplomatic and consular teams are monitoring the situation and helping citizens affected by the tragedy.
Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation. Valais prosecutors said several hypotheses are being examined, with the current theory pointing to a rapid general conflagration that led to a deflagration. Authorities emphasised that terrorism has been ruled out and that many circumstances remain to be clarified. Forensic experts from Zurich are assisting with the investigation and identification of victims.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the fire as “one of the worst tragedies our country has known” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He said flags at the Federal Palace will be lowered for five days as a sign of national mourning. Valais State Council President Mathias Reynard called the identification process “humanly unbearable” for families.
Le Constellation, owned by a French couple, has a capacity of 300 people plus a terrace for 40 more. Ambulances and emergency teams remain on site as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
European officials have expressed solidarity with Switzerland. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands “in full solidarity” with the country, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof voiced support for victims and their families, describing the incident as an “unprecedented” tragedy.
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