In the early hours of the New Year, a massive fire and explosion at Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort in Switzerland resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 people and left more than 115 others injured. The incident occurred during New Year’s Eve celebrations and spread rapidly, trapping many attendees inside the venue. Due to the severity of the burns, authorities are currently identifying the victims using DNA analysis and dental records.
Preliminary investigations indicate that sparks from the celebrations may have ignited the ceiling, triggering the disaster; however, the exact cause has not yet been officially confirmed. The Swiss government has declared five days of national mourning and has accepted international assistance to support the treatment of the injured and the identification of victims.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman expressed its deep condolences and solidarity with the Swiss government and people, offering sincere sympathies to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
According to initial reports by Swiss media and sources close to the investigation, the use of candles, decorative torches, or flame-based celebratory devices alongside flammable interior decorations—such as wooden structures or acoustic insulation—has been cited as a possible cause.
This hypothesis is being examined alongside other possibilities, including:
- Decorative table candles
- Fireworks or flame-based lighting effects
- Sparkler devices used on celebratory bottles
The Valais cantonal police stated officially:
“The cause of the explosion and fire has not yet been determined, and all scenarios, including unintentional factors, are under investigation.”
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