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Date: January 1, 2026, approx. 01:30 Location: Le Constellation Bar, Crans-Montana Ski Resort, Switzerland Type: Fire, Explosion Cause: Under investigation Rescue Personnel: 150 Equipment: 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances Fatalities: 40 Injuries: 119 Property Damage: Under assessment Overview: At approximately 1:30 AM CET (UTC+01:00) on January 1, 2026, an explosion and fire occurred at Le Constellation, a bar within the ski resort of Crans-Montana, a tourist town in the Valais canton of southwestern Switzerland, resulting in numerous casualties. The direct cause of the fire is suspected to be indoor fireworks. The evacuation process was chaotic. A crowd of about 200 people in the underground club rushed toward narrow stairs and exits to escape the flames, leading to severe bottlenecks and crushing. One survivor reported, "I fought for 30 seconds to escape the narrow stairs," while a witness who attempted rescue described the horrific scene: "When I broke through the window, I saw people burned from head to toe, their clothes completely scorched away." Immediately after the report, 10 helicopters, 40 ambulances, and 150 emergency responders were dispatched to the scene. Nevertheless, intensive care units and operating rooms in nearby Valais hospitals quickly reached capacity, leading to a declared state of emergency, and the injured were distributed to hospitals across Switzerland. Police have cordoned off the entire town of Crans-Montana and established a no-fly zone overhead.