Geneva, 1 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Several dozen people died in a fire at a New Year's Eve party in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said on Thursday.

Around 100 people were seriously injured in the incident, Frédéric Gisler, commander of police for the region of Valais where the resort is located, said during a press conference.

Investigators believe the fire was an accident. Initial findings and witness statements showed that the fire was not caused by an explosive device, said Stéphane Ganzer, the state councillor responsible for security in Valais.

Public Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud also said an attack could be ruled out.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 am (0030 GMT), and was accompanied by an explosion, according to media reports.

Police were on site after the incident, along with firefighters and several helicopters, and said the operation was still ongoing in the morning.

An emergency doctor told the Swiss broadcaster RTS that people with severe burns had been taken to nearby hospitals.

A no-fly zone was imposed over the area. Eyewitnesses in Geneva reported that emergency helicopters were landing at the university hospital every few minutes. The ski resort is about 100 kilometres from Geneva as the crow flies.

The Swiss authorities were receiving support from the civil protection department of the Aosta Valley Italian region on the border with Switzerland: A helicopter with mountain rescue specialists and medical personnel was requested by the Swiss and has been in operation there since 6 am, the Italian mountain rescue service reported.

Chic ski resort

Crans-Montana is located in the region of Valais and is considered a chic holiday destination, hosting many celebrities. The most famous resident was James Bond actor Roger Moore (1927-2017).

The resort, at an altitude of about 1,500 metres, has a large ski area. At the end of January, Ski World Cup races also take place there.

During the holidays, the resort is usually fully booked. With some 10,000 residents, there are about 2,600 hotel beds, including eight luxury hotels, and hundreds of holiday apartments.

There are some 1 million overnight stays per year, and about 20% of the guests come from abroad, according to the local tourism authority.

The nearest major airport is Geneva, which is 180 kilometres away by road.

Photo: EPA