Lakes, alpine forests and ski trails: Inside the Swiss town hit by deadly bar fire

New Delhi: A huge fire broke out at a bar inside a luxury ski resort in the Swiss Alps during New Year celebrations. It killed many people and left more than a hundred injured, Swiss police said early on Thursday. The blaze erupted around 1:30 am local time at Le Constellation, a bar located in Crans-Montana, one of Switzerland’s most prominent international ski destinations. At the time of the incident, more than 100 people were reportedly inside the building.

Police spokesperson Gaetan Lathion said rescue teams were still assessing the scale of casualties. "More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead," he said, adding that investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire.

"We're just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is an internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists," Lathion said.

Authorities said several dozen people are feared dead, while over 100 others have been injured. A reception centre and a helpline have been set up to assist affected families and a police news conference has been scheduled for 10 am local time in Crans-Montana.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the fire was reported, evacuating survivors and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Officials said it was too early to confirm the exact number of fatalities, as identification and verification procedures were still ongoing.

Investigators are examining whether overcrowding, electrical faults or fire safety lapses may have contributed to the blaze. Police have not yet confirmed how the fire started.

Crans-Montana lies in the French-speaking part of Switzerland’s Valais canton, about 40 kilometres north of the Matterhorn and roughly two hours from Bern. The resort is particularly popular with British and European tourists.

The town offers around 87 miles of hiking and skiing trails and is known for its lakes, alpine forests and panoramic mountain views. In winter, it attracts visitors for skiing, snow parks, ice rinks and cross-country trails stretching up to glacier plateaus.

Add TV9 English As A Trusted Source

The resort is also home to prestigious sporting events. The Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club hosts the annual Omega European Masters, one of the most iconic stops on the European golf tour.

According to the BBC, Crans-Montana is also scheduled to host a speed skiing event under the FIS World Cup later this month, further highlighting the resort’s global significance.