A look at some of the worst fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues

Afire at a barin the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day has left dozens of people presumed dead and around 100 injured, according to authorities. Here is a look at some other nightclub, bar and music venue fires that have led to significant death tolls:

— March 2025: Afire and ensuing stampedeat the crowded Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, killed 63 people, most of them young revelers, and injured more than 200. It was set off by a pyrotechnic flame that engulfed the roof of the club.

— April 2024: A blaze at theMasquerade nightclubin Istanbul, Turkey, trapped workers and employees while the venue was closed for renovations, leaving 29 people dead. It was located on the ground and basement floors of a 16-story residential building.

— October 2023: A fire that started at a nightclub in the southeastern Spanish city of Murcia and spread to two other clubs left 13 people dead.

— January 2022: A nightclubin Sorong, in Indonesia's West Papua province, burned after two groups attacked each other inside the building. Nineteen people were killed.

— January 2022: A blaze atLiv's Nightclub Yaoubain Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, set off explosions that killed 17 people. The government suggested that fireworks set the roof alight and the fire then spread to areas where cooking gas was stored.

— December 2016: Thirty-six people died in a fire at a warehouse in Oakland, California that had been converted into a residence and event space for artists dubbedthe "Ghost Ship."The blaze, which broke out during an electronic music and dance party, moved so quickly that victims were trapped on the illegally constructed second floor.

— October 2015: A blaze that broke out during a rock band's pyrotechnics display atthe Colectiv nightclub in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, killed 64 people and left some 190 injured.

— January 2013: A fire killed more than 200 people at theKiss nightclubin the city of Santa Maria in southern Brazil. Investigators said soundproofing foam on the ceiling caught fire and released poisonous gases that quickly killed those attending a university party.

— December 2009: Some 152 people died when a blaze broke out at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm, Russia. It started when an indoor fireworks display ignited a plastic ceiling decorated with branches.

— January 2009: An indoor fireworks display after a New Year's countdown ignited a blaze in the Santika club in Bangkok, Thailand, killing 67 people and injuring many more. Victims died from burns, smoke inhalation, and from being crushed.

— September 2008: A fire killed 44 people at the jammed King of Dancers nightclub in Shenzhen, China, when a stampede broke out after a fireworks show ignited the ceiling.

— December 2004: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a fire killed 194 people at the crowded Cromagnon Republic club after a flare ignited ceiling foam. Club owner Omar Chaban was sentenced to 20 years in prison for causing the deadly fire and for bribery. Others received lighter sentences.

— February 2003: A fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in the United States, killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others. Fireworks being used by the band set fire to flammable foam inside the club.

— January 2001: A fire at a cafe in the Dutch town of Volendam where people were celebrating the New Year killed 14 people and injured more than 200.

— December 2000: A fire that was blamed on a welding accident killed 309 people at a disco in the central Chinese city of Luoyang.

— October 1998: An arson attack against an overcrowded youth disco in the Swedish city of Goteborg killed 63 people and left around 200 injured. Four people were later convicted for starting the fire.

— March 1996: A fire at the Ozone Disco Pub in Quezon City, Philippines, killed 162 people. A large proportion of the victims were students partying to mark the end of the academic year.

— March 1990: An arson attack at the Happy Land nightclub in the Bronx borough of New York City killed 87 people. It started when a man angry with his girlfriend threw gasoline on the club's only exit and set it on fire, then jammed down the metal front gate so people were trapped.

— December 1983: A fire at the Alcala dance hall in Madrid, Spain, left 78 people dead and more than 20 injured.

— May 1977: A fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, killed 165 people and injured more than 200.

— November 1942: The deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history killed 492 people at Boston's Cocoanut Grove club. The fire at what had been one of Boston's foremost nightspots led to new requirements for sprinkler systems and accessible exits.

— April 1940: A fire ignited the decorative Spanish moss draping the ceiling of the Rhythm Night Club in Natchez, Mississippi, killing 209 people. The windows had been boarded up to prevent people from sneaking in.

A look at some of the worst fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues

Afire at a barin the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day has left dozens of people...
Cash machines in Bulgaria issue euros for the first time after joining the currency union

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians began withdrawing euros for the first time on Thursday after the former communist nationjoined the euro currency union as its 21st member.

Cash machines in the capital, Sofia, dispensed brand new euro banknotes, replacing the lev, which will still be in use for cash payments in January. However, people will receive only euros in change.

The country of nearly 6.7 million people was one of the poorest when it first became a member of the European Union in 2007. Joining the European single-currency system means deeper EU integration after its 1989 transition from a Soviet-style economy to democracy and free markets.

However, the historic milestone arrivesamid political instability, with the conservative-led government forced to resign earlier this month following nationwideanti-corruption protests, and skepticism among ordinary people, fueled by fears of price rises.

The government had to beat down inflation to 2.7% earlier this year to comply with EU rules and win approval from EU leaders. But its resignation left the country withouta regular budgetfor next year, hampering reforms and the use of the 27-member bloc's support funds, fueling protests.

Nationalist and pro-Russian groups in Bulgaria have also exploited fears that the switch to the euro will allegedly lead to more poverty and loss of national identity.

Countries that join the EU commit to the euro, but actually joining can take years and some members are in no hurry. Croatia was the last to join in 2023.

Cash machines in Bulgaria issue euros for the first time after joining the currency union

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians began withdrawing euros for the first time on Thursday after the former communist natio...

Happy New Year! It may be January, but the weather hasn't always been either frigid cold or snowy on the holiday.

On Jan. 1, 2022, four years ago today, a weather station in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas reported a high of 99 degrees. This reading at the Falcon Lake Dam between Laredo and McAllen is both the hottest New Year's Day and January temperature on record in the U.S., according to weather historian Christopher Burt.

That's 20 degrees hotter than Death Valley, America's hottest place, has ever recorded on New Year's Day.

On the other end of the spectrum, Maybell, Colorado, once plunged to minus 60 degrees on Jan. 1, 1979, the coldest New Year's day temperature on record for the continental U.S., according to Burt.

If that wasn't chilling enough, on New Year's Day 1961, arecord-breaking ice stormfrom both freezing fog and freezing rain left up to 8 inches of ice accumulation in northern Idaho, leaving widespread damage to trees, and residents stuck in their homes without power.

(MORE:New Year's Weirdest Weather)

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

On This Date: New Year's Almost 100 Degrees In Texas And Idaho Ice Storm

Happy New Year! It may be January, but the weather hasn't always been either frigid cold or snowy on the holiday. On Jan. 1, 2022, f...
Emergency services declared the incident a 'major catastrophe'

At least 10 people have been killed with dozens more feared dead after an explosion at a bar in a Swiss sky resort town on New Year's Day.

More than 100 people were inside the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which is popular with British tourists, when a blast caused a fire at around 1.30am on Thursday.

Swiss police told Sky News that at least 10 people were dead and another 10 were injured. The incident is not being treated as terror-related.

Local media outlets Rhône FM and Blick have reported that the death toll could be as high as 40.

Credit: via X

A doctor in the Swiss air ambulance and rescue service told the national broadcaster RTS that hospitals were "overwhelmed" with burn victims.

A no-fly zone has been imposed over the town and the area has been completely closed off as helicopters and air ambulances rescue victims.

A source in the emergency services described the incident as a "major catastrophe", with Blick claiming that pyrotechnics could have been involved, citing "unconfirmed reports".

An image shared online showed ambulances and firefighters near the bar

Crans-Montana is a fashionable ski resort in the Valais region ofSwitzerland. It is set to host the FIS World Cup for skiing at the end of January.

Gaetan Lathion, a police spokesman, said: "The fire started around 1.30am this morning in a bar called Le Constellation.

"More than a hundred people were in the building, and we are seeing many injured and many dead."

Le Constellation is in Crans-Montana, which is popular with British tourists

A reception centre and helpline have been setup for impacted families, the spokesman added.

"We're just at the beginning of our investigation, but this is a internationally renowned ski resort with lots of tourists," Mr Lathion said.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.

Police are set to hold a press conference at 9am UK time.

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At least 10 killed after explosion in Swiss ski resort

At least 10 people have been killed with dozens more feared dead after an explosion at a bar in a Swiss sky resort town on New Year's D...

 

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