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What should have been a night of celebration at a nightclub turned into one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland’s recent history. A devastating fire consumed the popular bar and nightclub Le Constellation, located in the exclusive ski resort of Crans-Montana, leaving a preliminary toll of 40 people dead and more than 115 injured.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 am on Thursday, January 1, when the venue was at maximum capacity with hundreds of young people, many of them international tourists, celebrating the arrival of 2026.

Panic and an “apocalyptic scene”

According to stories from survivors and witnesses collected by local media, the fire started accidentally. Testimonies indicate that a sparkler or candle lit in a champagne bottle reached the wooden decorated ceiling, causing the flames to spread at dizzying speed.

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Panic took over the nightclub due to the characteristics of the establishment:

Limited departures: Finding themselves in a basement, the attendees tried to evacuate through a narrow staircase, which generated a human stampede.

Horror scenes: Witnesses described people breaking windows with chairs to escape and others fleeing with their clothes on fire.

Emergency response: More than 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances were deployed. The government of the canton of Valais declared a state of emergency to prioritize medical care.

Victims of various nationalities

Swiss authorities have confirmed that most of the victims are young people between 15 and 25 years old. Since Crans-Montana is an elite tourist destination, it has been reported that among the deceased and missing there are citizens of Italy, France and Germany.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who took office on January 1, expressed his deep dismay: “What should have been a moment of joy turned into a pain that has moved the entire country.”

Ongoing investigation

Although the police have ruled out any hypothesis of a terrorist attack, the investigation is now focusing on possible security negligence. Preliminary reports suggest that the venue already had previous negative reviews related to its evacuation protocols and the use of pyrotechnics in closed spaces.

The country has begun five days of national mourning while forensic teams work on the difficult task of identifying the victims.

While it was burning everyone laughed: this is how they recorded the tragic nightclub fire in Switzerland that left 40 dead

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