Several people died and many others were injured after a powerful explosion tore through a crowded bar in Switzerland’s luxury ski resort town of Crans-Montana early Thursday morning. Police said the blast struck Le Constellation bar around 1:30am local time, when New Year celebrations were still underway and dozens of people were inside.
According to police in the Wallis canton, the explosion triggered a major fire that quickly spread through the building, forcing emergency teams to launch a large overnight rescue operation. Officers confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries, while stressing that the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this stage.
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Images shared by Swiss media showed the bar engulfed in flames, with fire engines, ambulances, and rescue crews surrounding the area as smoke rose into the night sky. Authorities immediately sealed off the resort zone, while imposing a no-fly area to allow emergency services to work without disruption.
Police spokesman Gaetan Lathion said the intervention was still ongoing, as investigators searched the damaged structure and assisted injured survivors. He added that officials were carefully accounting for everyone present, as the bar was packed with New Year revellers at the time.
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More than 100 people were reportedly inside the bar when the explosion occurred, raising concerns that the death toll could rise as investigations continue. Meanwhile, officials urged the public to avoid the area, promising to release further updates once more details become clear.