At the entrance of a street leading to Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, January 2, 2026. MAXIME SCHMID / AFP
The days following a horror can produce surreal visual contrasts. On one side, in Crans-Montana's main square next to the Casino and the outdoor skating rink, women in fur coats sipped prosecco on a sunny terrace, while busy skiers waited for the shuttle to take them to ski runs that were barely covered with snow for the season.
Just 500 meters away, however, the atmosphere was heavy. Pale passersby and dazed relatives of victims continued to gather at a roundabout near Le Constellation nightclub. On Thursday, January 1, at least 40 people, most of them young people celebrating the New Year, lost their lives in a fire. In front of the white tarps set up by the forensic police, many laid flowers, Christmas stars, stuffed animals and candles in tribute. On handwritten notes, one could read, "Rest in peace among the stars," and "Let us pray for the families, the injured and the local authorities."
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Switzerland in shock after tragic bar fire: 'It was a war zone. Burned hair, faces and hands'
