Swiss police announced on Thursday (January 1st) that a bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in the southwest experienced an explosion and fire in the early hours of that day, resulting in multiple casualties.
Videos circulating on social media captured the scene engulfed in flames.
According to Reuters, the explosion incident led to at least 10 deaths. The police spokesperson has not confirmed the exact number of casualties, but stated that many people are undergoing treatment for burns.
The fire broke out at 1:30 a.m. local time on New Year’s Day 2026 (00:30 Greenwich Mean Time) at a bar called “Le Constellation.” The bar was hosting a New Year’s celebration event at the time.
As one of Switzerland’s top luxury resort towns, Crans-Montana is situated in the heart of the Alps known for its year-round sunny weather and is approximately a two-hour drive from the capital, Bern.
In a statement, the police mentioned that a large number of law enforcement, firefighters, and rescue personnel have rushed to the explosion site, and the area where the incident occurred has been completely cordoned off with a no-fly zone imposed over Crans-Montana.
The police spokesperson stated that there were over a hundred people inside the bar at the time of the explosion. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation.