Security forces work at the scene of a fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland, on January 1, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Around 40 people have died after a fire ripped through a bar in a ski resort in southern Switzerland, police have said. Some another 115 people are injured, many of them "severely," media reported on Friday. The Chinese Embassy in Switzerland said no reports of Chinese citizens being killed or injured have been received so far, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

People from multiple countries have been affected. Authorities said many of the victims were young, and it will take days to identify all of them, per reports from BBC and CNN. 

Those injured were taken to hospitals in Sion, capital of Valais Canton, as well as in other cities, including Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva, according to police. Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais cantonal government, said some of the injured may later be transferred to hospitals abroad, per Xinhua.

The fire broke out at around 00:30 GMT during new year celebrations in a bar called Le Constellation in Crans-Montana. One of Switzerland's most exclusive locales, Crans-Montana is known for sweeping vistas stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.

Officials investigating the incident have not confirmed any cause, but categorically ruled out an attack. Two witnesses told media that it was caused by sparklers placed in champagne bottles, but officials say it will take time to determine what started the blaze, according to media reports.

Asked about earlier reports of an explosion, regional security official Stéphane Ganzer said it "is not the detonation of an explosive device that causes the fire, it is the fire which, as it develops, causes an explosion and a general conflagration of the premises," BBC reported.

Two French nationals who said they were in the bar at the time described seeing a waitress put a birthday candle on top of a champagne bottle. "One of the candles was held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire. In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood." Emma and Albane told French media outlet BFMTV.

They described the evacuation as "very difficult" because the escape route was "narrow" and the stairs to get outside "even narrower".

Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler said the priority in the coming days was to identify those who had died "so that their bodies can be returned rapidly" to their families.

President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country's history. "The government would like to express its condolences to all the relatives," Parmelin said.

Flags at the Federal Palace will be flown at half-mast for five days, Parmelin added, stressing that such tragedies must be prevented in the future. 

Parmelin also postponed his planned New Year's address and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

World leaders reacted to the fatal fire that tore through the crowded bar. French president Emmanuel Macron said on X "Our thoughts are with the families," adding that France is welcoming the injured in its hospitals and stands ready to provide any assistance. 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also expressed their condolences, Reuters reported. 

A Chinese expert noted that during major holidays such as the New Year, risks of public safety incidents are relatively higher due to large crowds, including fires and stampedes. This is a major challenge for public safety governance at critical times, even in countries like Switzerland, which enjoy a relatively high level of economic and social development and public security, Jiang Feng, a research fellow at Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, told the Global Times on Friday.

The incident highlights the need to continuously strengthen safety awareness and public management, serving as a warning to the global community. It also exposed problems such as aging equipment, inadequate fire-prevention measures, and management loopholes, Jiang said.