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While the transition to the new year was supposed to be synonymous with celebration, the posh resort of Crans-Montana was plunged into horror on New Year’s Eve. A devastating fire ravaged a crowded establishment, leaving behind a terrifying human toll. Among the many victims who are now fighting for their survival is a young hope of French football, Tahirys Dos Santos, whose destiny was turned upside down in the middle of the flames.
The setting was that of a winter postcard, but the scenario turned into a tragedy. On the night of December 31 to January 1, 2026, a fire of unprecedented violence broke out in a bar in the Valais resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The fire, whose origin has yet to be determined, spread with lightning speed from the basement of the establishment, trapping hundreds of people in a confined space, on several levels.
According to the Swiss authorities, the toll is “dramatic”. There are already “about forty” deaths and more than 115 injured, including “80 to 100 in absolute emergency” and “a terrible toll that is getting worse”, reports RTL. The Quai d’Orsay quickly confirmed that France was paying a heavy price for this tragedy: eight people have not yet been found and 9 are injured and have been transferred to various hospitals. Among them is a 19-year-old footballer from FC Metz, Tahirys Dos Santos.