A New Year’s Eve celebration at a high-end Swiss ski resort turned deadly after a fire ripped through a packed nightclub, killing at least 40 people and leaving more than 100 others injured.
The inferno broke out in the early hours of January 1, 2026, at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most glamorous Alpine resorts. What began as champagne toasts and DJ-led revelry quickly descended into chaos, marking one of Europe’s deadliest nightlife disasters in recent years.
According to investigators, the fire was triggered shortly after 2am when staff lit sparklers; also known as Bengal candles, on champagne bottles, a common party tradition. Sparks are believed to have ignited highly flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling, causing the flames to spread within seconds.
Videos from the scene, now circulating widely on social media, show the exact moment the ceiling caught fire before the venue was engulfed in thick smoke and intense heat.
Eyewitnesses described terrifying scenes as hundreds of revellers locals and tourists from France, Italy and other countries, scrambled to escape the basement dance floor.
“It felt like an oven,” said 20-year-old survivor Mr Bersier, who recalled grabbing his jacket as screams filled the room and people pushed toward dimly lit exits. “My hands were blistering as I tried to get out.”
Another witness, 17-year-old Nesto Fischer, said the situation outside was just as harrowing.
“I could hear agonised cries. We tried smashing a jammed glass door with a stool, but inside it was an inferno. People were collapsing from smoke and burns,” he said.
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed that indoor sparklers were the likely cause of the blaze, noting they were held dangerously close to inadequate ceiling insulation.
Fire experts say the foam was probably polyurethane-based, a material known to release toxic gases and accelerate flames in overcrowded, oxygen-rich spaces.
Authorities are now investigating multiple possible safety failures, including overcrowding, blocked or malfunctioning exits, non-functional emergency lighting and the absence of fire suppression systems. The venue was reportedly licensed for fewer people than were inside at the time.
Some members of the public have also criticised revellers who were seen filming the fire instead of fleeing immediately, a detail that has sparked heated debate online.
“I am consumed with grief. We cannot eat or sleep,” said resort owner Jacques Moretti as families held vigils for missing loved ones.