Swiss authorities also clarified that the incident was being treated as a fire and not as an attack. The intensive care unit at Valais Hospital quickly reached full capacity, forcing authorities to transfer patients to other facilities, Swiss officials said. The municipality had banned New Year’s Eve fireworks due to a lack of rainfall over the past month, according to its website. Crans-Montana lies in the heart of the Swiss Alps, about 40 kilometres north of the Matterhorn and 130 kilometres south of Zurich. The resort town has a population of around 10,000 residents, with its highest point reaching nearly 3,000 metres above sea level.

Source: The Telegraph January 01, 2026 10:54 UTC