Headlines
Death toll of Swiss New Year bar blaze rises to 41
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 1, 2026
Quick Summary
The Swiss New Year bar fire in Crans-Montana has claimed 41 lives, with many victims being teenagers. The community seeks justice amid strained Swiss-Italian relations.
Death toll of Swiss New Year bar blaze rises to 41
Overview of the Tragic Incident
ZURICH, Feb 1 (Reuters) - An 18-year-old injured in the New Year bar fire in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana has died, Swiss authorities said on Sunday, taking the death toll of one of the worst disasters in modern Swiss history to 41.
Victims and Casualties
The Swiss national was in hospital in Zurich and died on Saturday, the statement by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of Valais added, without providing any further information.
Community Response
Most of those killed in the blaze at "Le Constellation" bar were teenagers and some of the 116 people who were injured are still in hospital with severe burns.
Legal Implications
The additional victim was a young man living near the western city of Lausanne, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
On Saturday, hundreds of people marched alongside bereaved parents through the lakeside town of Lutry near Lausanne, carrying a large banner demanding "truth and justice".
"Today, we are just asking for justice and truth and afterwards we will mourn," Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who lost her 17-year-old son Arthur in the fire, told a crowd of people carrying white roses.
The fire has tested relations with neighbouring Italy, which lost nationals in the blaze and has protested the release on bail of the bar's owner.
Swiss authorities earlier this week said they would grant the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office access to evidence gathered.
(Reporting by Emma Farge and Ariane Luthi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Takeaways
- •Death toll from Swiss bar fire rises to 41.
- •Victims include many teenagers; some still hospitalized.
- •Community demands justice and truth for the victims.
- •Fire strains Swiss-Italian relations due to Italian casualties.
- •Legal proceedings involve Swiss and Italian authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Death toll of Swiss New Year bar blaze rises to 41
1What is insurance?
Insurance is a financial product that provides protection against financial loss or risk. It involves paying premiums to an insurer in exchange for coverage against specific risks.
2What is a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is a situation where the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to a loss of confidence in the economy and financial system.
3What is community response?
Community response refers to the actions taken by a group of people in a community to address a specific issue or crisis, often involving support, advocacy, and collective action.
4What is risk management?
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events.
