New Year’s Bar Explosion in Crans-Montana Leaves Multiple Dead and About 100 Injured

Overview

• Cantonal police said roughly 100 people were injured and several dozen are presumed dead, while other reports cited provisional tolls from at least 10 to about 40.
• The blast and fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. inside the Le Constellation lounge during a crowded New Year celebration in the Swiss resort town.
• A major rescue mobilized firefighters, police, at least 10 helicopters and more than 40 ambulances, and authorities established an aerial exclusion zone.
• Victims were transported to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva, Bern and Zurich as officials continue identification and a full accounting of casualties.
• Prosecutors opened an investigation focusing on a possible pyrotechnics origin, terrorism is considered unlikely, and regional ICUs report severe strain.