Swiss resort bar fire overwhelms burn units as death toll nears 40

Around 40 people have died and about 115 others were injured, many severely, in a devastating fire that ripped through the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans‑Montana during New Year’s celebrations, authorities said.

The blaze, which began just after 1:30 a.m., left many victims with serious burns, pushing Switzerland’s specialized burn units past capacity. Hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Zurich, Geneva, and Bern took in wounded, with Lausanne’s and Zurich’s burn centers stretched beyond their limits.

Swiss officials in Bern are working with the European Union to transfer the most severe cases to hospitals in Germany, Italy, and France capable of treating critical burn patients, with transfers expected to begin shortly.

Local responders were overwhelmed as survivors with severe injuries flooded emergency departments, forcing authorities to call in additional resources from across the country and beyond.

Emergency care officials described the scale of the disaster as unprecedented, with many victims still in critical condition.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and identification efforts are continuing amid the tragic toll. Swiss President Guy Parmelin has declared a period of national mourning and expressed deep sorrow for the victims and their families.