On Friday, Swiss authorities began the somber process of identifying the victims of a devastating fire that erupted during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a bar in Crans-Montana, a popular ski resort. The tragedy claimed the lives of approximately 40 individuals, most of whom were young, and left more than 100 others injured.

Reports from Italian officials suggest the death toll might be as high as 47, according to Reuters. Among those affected, several Italian nationals are believed to be either deceased, injured, or missing.

The inferno swept through the Le Constellation bar in the early hours of Thursday, transforming what should have been a joyous celebration into a scene of chaos and heartbreak. Authorities have indicated that, based on current evidence, the fire appears to have been accidental rather than the result of foul play.

In the wake of the disaster, mourners have gathered near the site to pay their respects, leaving flowers and lighting candles at a makeshift memorial. The community is grappling with the profound loss, as captured in poignant images of the scene. (Maxime Schmid / AFP via Getty Images)

The process of identifying the victims is proving to be a challenging task for Swiss authorities. Due to the severe burns sustained by many, forensic teams anticipate delays in confirming the identities, which could take several days.

Police and government officials said a large share of the victims were teenagers and young adults, with many believed to be between 16 and 26 years old. In Switzerland, the legal drinking age is 16 for beer and wine.

“All this work needs to be done because the information is so terrible and sensitive that nothing can be told to the families unless we are 100% sure,” said Mathias Reynard, head of government of the canton of Valais. He said investigators were using dental records and DNA samples to identify the victims.

Italy and France said some of their nationals remain missing, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited Crans-Montana on Friday and laid flowers. 

The number of Italians involved in the incident currently stands at 19, according to the BBC, which cited Italy’s foreign ministry.

Australia has also confirmed that one of its nationals was injured. 

Emergency crews and medical aircraft are seen at a regional airport in Switzerland as victims of a deadly New Year’s Eve bar fire in the Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana were transported for treatment. (REUTERS/Lisa Leutner)

Some survivor accounts and video broadcast on social media suggested the ceiling of the bar’s basement may have caught fire when sparkling candles used during bottle service got too close, though authorities said the cause had not yet been formally determined.

Officials said the blaze triggered the violent ignition of combustible gases — a phenomenon known to English-speaking firefighters as a flashover or backdraft, according to The Associated Press.

Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris who survived the blaze, described “total chaos” inside the bar. One of his friends died and “two or three were missing,” he told the outlet.

Rescuers and firefighters work at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on Jan. 1, 2026. (MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty Images)

Clavier said he did not see the fire start but recalled waitresses entering the room carrying Champagne bottles topped with sparklers shortly before the blaze erupted.

Another witness told BFMTV that people smashed windows to escape the flames. Panicked parents rushed to the scene to see whether their children were trapped inside.

Rescuers are seen at the site of an explosion that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana on Jan. 1, 2026. (MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty Images)

Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to assist victims from multiple countries, officials said. Hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, with intensive care units and operating theaters reaching capacity.

Swiss authorities later said the burn unit in Valais was full, and that Italy made a major burns unit in Milan available to treat the injured. 

By Friday, mourners had begun leaving flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial near the cordoned-off bar as the resort town struggled to absorb the scale of the tragedy.