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King Charles has paid tribute to the young victims of the Crans- Montana bar tragedy, after Swiss police confirmed around 40 people died in the tragedy.
The blast occurred at around 1.30am on Thursday at Le Constellation, a bar popular with tourists in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana in the Valais region, southwestern Switzerland.
Revellers were gathered at the venue to ring in the new year when the explosion struck.
“It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy,” the King said in his message to the President of Switzerland on Thursday evening.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the commander of the Valais cantonal police said the incident has left “around 40” dead and 100 or so injured, some seriously.
The exact cause of the blaze is not yet known, but officials have ruled out a terror incident.
Images published by Swiss media showed the building engulfed in flames, with footage appearing to show the bar’s ceiling rapidly catch fire.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited the town on Thursday afternoon, and told a press conference that many of the victims are believed to be young people.
Rebecca Whittaker2 January 2026 02:00
- Approximately 40 people were killed and 115 injured during a New Year’s celebration at a bar in the Swiss Alps.
- The incident occurred at the Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort, a popular ski and golf destination.
- Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler confirmed the high number of casualties, noting that victim identification would be a lengthy process.
- The region’s attorney general Beatrice Pilloud stated that the cause of the fire is currently unknown, as investigators have not yet been able to access the site.
- Authorities have ruled out any suggestion of an attack, with the local community described as devastated by the tragedy.
Rebecca Whittaker2 January 2026 01:00
Eight French citizens are missing following the fire that killed around 40 people and injured 115.
In a statement, the French foreign ministry said it could not rule out that French nationals were among the dead.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Swiss counterpart earlier in the day to offer assistance.
Three survivors of the fire had been moved to French hospitals and further transfers were underway, the ministry added.
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 23:00
A French football club has said of its youth players is among the injured and is receiving treatment in hospital.
FC Metz, based in north-east France, said 19-year-old Tahirys Dos Santos has been airlifted to a hospital in Germany after being “severely burned”.
“FC Metz is saddened to report that Tahirys Dos Santos, has been injured in the fire in Crans-Montana.
“The club also wishes to give its full support to his family.”
Youth player Tahirys Dos Santos for FC Metz (FC Metz)
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 22:00
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 21:40
Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families, Valais Canton police commander Frïdïric Gisler said during a news conference.
Thirteen of the wounded were Italian citizens, and another six Italians are unaccounted for, Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, told state-run RAI television.
Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire and experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.
However Pilloud has said it was not an attack: “At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack.”
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 21:20
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 21:00
Mourners have attended a vigil at a church in the ski resort of Crans-Montana (REUTERS)
Mourners have attended a vigil at a church in the ski resort of Crans-Montana (REUTERS)
Mourners have attended a vigil at a church in the ski resort of Crans-Montana (REUTERS)
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 20:40
One onlooker recalls seeing flames engulf the building and said the local branch of UBS bank opened up to give refuge to survivors.
Dominic Dubois told Reuters: “All the tables were pushed aside and people entered and it was warm in there, there was more light as well, so the triage was down there.”
“Paramedics, police – not the firemen, the firemen were out here. And then it was just ambulances coming back and forth as much as possible.”
Rebecca Whittaker1 January 2026 20:20