With flags already at half-mast across Switzerland, a chorus of church bells will ring out across Switzerland at 2 p.m. today in memory of the 40 victims of a deadly fire in a mountain resort.<\/p>\n
As the country pauses to pay respects<\/a> to the victims, many of whom were teenagers enjoying a night out, fellow citizens are asking how such a tragedy could unfold in a country that prides itself on safety, high standards and a top-drawer quality of life.<\/p>\n The fire, which also injured 116 people, happened in the early hours of New Year\u2019s Day in Crans-Montana in the French-speaking south west of the country. Many of the victims were so severely burned that it took days to identify them. Of those injured, the majority remain in hospital and have been transported to specialist clinics as far away as Stuttgart and Paris.<\/p>\n Read more: <\/strong>Fire Safety Inspections Lapsed for Years at Swiss Bar Where 40 Died in New Year\u2019s Blaze<\/a><\/p>\n The scandal has shaken the country, particularly given revelations about failures at \u201cLe Constellation,\u201d a two-storey bar in the town, and also by local authorities who are supposed to enforce fire safety. Officials admitted this week that the bar hadn\u2019t been checked and inspected for safety since 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cWe bitterly regret this,\u201d Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud said at a press conference.<\/p>\n On Friday, a memorial ceremony for the victims will take place in the town of Martigny as part of a national day of mourning. The event was moved from Crans-Montana, which sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters, due to the heavy snow forecast.<\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s president Guy Parmelin, who described the fire as \u201cone of the worst tragedies that our country has ever known,\u201d will attend, along with other local politicians. French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella will also take part, in memory of those from their countries who died. Victims of the fire came from 19 countries.<\/p>\n The disaster has become a tragic backdrop for a number of global events taking place in Switzerland in the coming weeks, including ski World Cup races<\/a> and the World Economic Forum\u2019s annual gathering of the global elite of executives and politicians in Davos.<\/p>\n Authorities in Davos said Thursday that they will have a \u201cproven fire-safety regime\u201d in place for the WEF event, which starts on Jan. 19. Fire services will operate at heightened alert during the event, the authority said. Additional crews will be deployed, including a special unit directly at the Congress Center \u2014 where key events take place.<\/p>\n Stores in Davos, even a church, are being repurposed into event spaces and multiple temporary structures have been constructed. All need approval and are inspected by the Graub\u00fcnden cantonal building insurer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a similar story in Adelboden, where a World Cup ski races are scheduled this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe operators will do everything they can so that we won\u2019t have a repeat of such an event,\u201d Mayor Willy Schranz told SRF Radio. \u201cWe have a responsibility here.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiss lawmakers held a hearing with Justice Minister Beat Jans on Thursday and quizzed him about what kind of support the country can offer for victims of the fire.<\/p>\n Investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile Valais prosecutors continue to investigate the two bar owners over alleged fire safety failures. Possible charges include homicide and bodily injury by negligence. The fire appears to have been triggered by sparklers held aloft in champagne bottles that caught fire to a highly-flammable, soundproofing foam on the ceiling.<\/p>\n Insurers are also assessing the fallout from the event, with damages due to be paid out to survivors of the fire for the injuries they suffered, as well as the family of the dead.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong> Swiss Bar\u2019s Owners Face Criminal Negligence Probe After Fire<\/a><\/p>\n French insurer AXA SA said that it has provided liability insurance to Crans-Montana and a business liability insurance for \u201cLa Constellation.\u201d Both policies are \u201cstandard products\u201d and the sum insured is limited, AXA\u2019s Swiss unit said in a statement.<\/p>\n Swiss insurance companies Zurich Insurance Group AG and Helvetia Baloise Holding AG declined to comment on any exposure.<\/p>\n While the town of Crans-Montana struggles to get back on its feet, there hasn\u2019t been a noticeable impact on tourism so far, according to Bruno Huggler, director of Crans-Montana Tourism.<\/p>\n In terms of overnight stays \u201cthere have been hardly any early departures or cancellations, apart from the people directly affected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A number of businesses that closed or reduced opening hours for a time after the fire are now trying to operate as normal again, as much as that\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n On the town\u2019s website, a message reads: \u201cYou are warmly invited to visit them with calm, respect and consideration during this time of shared sorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Topics<\/span> Carriers<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Was this article valuable?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.insurancejournal.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/40-killed-in-fire-swiss-resort-of-crans-montana-bloomberg-580x390.jpg\")
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