Nestled amid the breathtaking Swiss Alps, where pristine snow blankets luxurious chalets and the promise of festive revelry draws crowds from across Europe, the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana became the scene of unimaginable horror on New Year’s Eve 2025. What began as a vibrant celebration at Le Constellation, a popular bar and nightclub in the heart of this glamorous Valais canton town, descended into chaos and tragedy as flames erupted shortly after midnight, claiming at least 40 lives and injuring 119 others, many with severe burns.

Eyewitnesses recount a night that shattered in seconds. “I thought my brother was still inside, so I turned back,” an 18-year-old survivor, speaking anonymously to reporters, described his desperate actions amid the panic. He smashed windows in a bid to help others escape before venturing back into the inferno himself. Another young witness, a teenager inside the basement venue, spoke of confronting a terrifying “wall of heat.” Forced to improvise, he overturned a table for cover, choked on thick smoke, and eventually shattered a window with his foot to flee the blaze that was rapidly consuming everything in its path.

The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026, as hundreds packed the two-level establishment—up to 300 indoors, with a heated terrace accommodating more—dancing to hip-hop beats and toasting the new year. Preliminary investigations point to a tragic spark: sparklers affixed to champagne bottles, a flashy service often used to delight patrons, held aloft too close to the low ceiling lined with acoustic foam. Videos circulating online, including promotional clips from the bar itself showing staff parading similar sparkling displays, capture the moment cheers turned to screams as flames licked across the panels and ignited combustible materials in a devastating flashover.

“It spread so fast—like within 10 seconds the whole room was on fire,” one survivor recalled in interviews with French media. Cellphone footage verified by outlets like BBC and Reuters shows partygoers initially filming the spectacle, mistaking the growing blaze for part of the show, before pandemonium erupted. Dense black smoke billowed, visibility vanished, and a deadly crush formed at the narrow staircase—the primary exit from the basement nightclub. “People were piling up, collapsing, burning,” described witnesses like Albane and Emma, two French women who narrowly escaped. Some leaped from windows, tumbling into the snow below, their clothes aflame.

The human toll is heartbreaking, with many victims teenagers and young adults drawn to Le Constellation’s casual vibe in an otherwise high-end resort. Crans-Montana, perched at 1,500 meters with panoramic views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, attracts affluent Europeans for world-class skiing and golf—it’s set to host events ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The bar, remodeled in 2015 by French owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti, was a staple for younger crowds, featuring shisha, big screens for sports, and lively nights. Yet, on this fateful evening, it became a trap.

By morning, the death count stood at 40, with identifications ongoing via DNA and dental records due to severe charring. Among the first confirmed: 16-year-old Italian junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, hailed by his federation as a promising talent full of “passion and authentic values.” Others included Swiss locals and tourists from Italy (16 missing initially), France (eight unaccounted for), Poland, Serbia, Belgium, and beyond. A 19-year-old French footballer, Tahirys Dos Santos, was airlifted to Germany with grave burns. Families gathered in anguish at a reception center in Sion, clutching photos and pleading for news. “We just want to find him,” echoed relatives of missing teens like 16-year-old Achille Barosi and Giovanni Tamburi.

The emergency response was massive and swift. Alerts triggered at 1:30 a.m., police arrived within minutes, followed by firefighters. A state of emergency declared, the town cordoned off, a no-fly zone imposed. Over 150 responders, 10 helicopters, and 40 ambulances mobilized. Local hospitals in Sion and Valais overflowed, prompting transfers across Switzerland—to Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva—and abroad via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland. Triage sites popped up in nearby bars and even a bank branch. Psychological support teams aided shell-shocked survivors, many haunted by visions of “people burning from head to foot.”

Investigators, led by Valais prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud, quickly ruled out arson or terrorism, focusing on accident and potential negligence. Sparklers on bottles emerged as the likely ignition source, with questions swirling over the ceiling’s foam—suspected non-flame-retardant—and compliance with Switzerland’s stringent fire codes requiring multiple exits, ventilation, and safe materials for venues over 200 capacity. The bar’s layout, with its single narrow staircase, exacerbated the bottleneck. Owners defended inspections—three in 10 years, “everything according to standards”—but a criminal probe opened for negligent homicide and bodily harm.

This disaster evokes chilling echoes of past nightclub tragedies. The 2003 Station fire in Rhode Island, sparked by pyrotechnics igniting foam, killed 100 in a similar flashover. Romania’s 2015 Colectiv blaze (64 dead from indoor fireworks), Thailand’s 2009 Santika (67 dead), and others highlight recurring perils: flammable interiors, overcrowding, inadequate exits, and risky effects like sparklers. Experts note acoustic foam, if not treated, can fuel rapid spread and toxic smoke. In Crans-Montana, the “embrasement généralisé”—a violent conflagration—mirrored these, turning joy to nightmare.

Heroes emerged amid the horror. Gianni Campolo, a 19-year-old vacationer, rushed to aid, breaking doors and pulling victims free. “I have seen horror,” he told media. Young helpers like 14-year-old Marc-Antoine Chavanon assisted amid collapsing crowds. Survivors like the anonymous 18-year-old embodied bravery, re-entering for loved ones.

World leaders responded with grief. Swiss President Guy Parmelin called it “one of the worst tragedies” in national history, ordering five days of mourning and half-mast flags. France’s Emmanuel Macron offered support; Italy’s Giorgia Meloni lamented a “painful moment for the Alpine region”; King Charles III decried a “nightmarish tragedy.” Locally, vigils drew tearful teens with candles and flowers; fireworks canceled in solidarity.

As of January 4, 2026, identification continues, with some injured still fighting for life in specialist burn units. Crans-Montana, once synonymous with elegance and adventure, now mourns under a pall of sorrow. Makeshift memorials bloom outside the sealed bar—teddy bears, notes, flames flickering in remembrance. The investigation may uncover lapses, prompting calls for stricter Alpine-wide regulations on pyrotechnics and venues. Yet nothing can restore the lost lives or erase the scars. This blaze serves as a sobering reminder: in pursuit of spectacle, safety must prevail. For families shattered and a community forever changed, the new year dawned not with hope, but profound loss.