'Horror inferno' - British newspapers report on deadly ski resort fire

Deadly New Year fire at Crans-Montana bar kills around 40 and injures over 100, shocking Switzerland. Authorities say the blaze appears accidental, with most victims reported as young people.

Reuters

2 January 2026 at 10:29:03

Tragedy in the Swiss Alps: Around 40 dead, 115 injured in Crans-Montana New Year bar fire

Reuters

News of a deadly fire at a bar in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana dominated British newspaper front pages on Friday morning (January 2).

Officials reported that around 40 people were killed and 115 injured when a fire tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Thursday (January 1).

Police said the blaze broke out at 1:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) at a bar called Le Constellation, popular among teenagers and young adults in the southwestern Swiss resort.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the tragedy "one of the worst our country has ever known," noting that most of the victims were young people.

The cause of the fire, initially reported as an explosion, remains unclear. Authorities, however, said it appears to have been accidental rather than the result of an attack.

-Production: Ben Makori, Vitalii Yalahuzian/Reuters