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.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

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...
A police officer walks near ambulances at the site of a fire at a bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. - Maxime Schmid/AFP/Getty Images

Several people have been killed and others injured in a fire at a new year's party at an Alpine ski resort in southern Switzerland, a police spokesperson said Thursday.

Gaetan Lathion, spokesperson for police in the canton of Valais, said the "fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation lounge bar in Crans-Montana." He said about 100 people were inside the venue at the time.

"There are several injuries and several fatalities."

Large crews from the emergency services immediately responded and rushed to the scene. Rescue efforts are still ongoing and the area has been closed off with a no-fly zone in place over Crans-Montana, police said.

Officers confirmed the fire started inside the lounge bar but said the cause remains unknown. They did not give an exact figure for those killed and injured in the fire, which struck in an area known for high-end holiday resorts.

A press conference will be held with police and the regional public prosecutor at around 10 a.m. (4 a.m. ET).

One of Switzerland's most exclusive locales, Crans-Montana is famed for its year-round sunshine, which it owes to its position on a south-facing plateau in the Rhone Valley.

The area – 1,500 meters above sea level – offers sweeping Alpine vistas stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, one of Europe's highest peaks.

Police officers walk near the site of a fire that ripped through a bar in Crans-Montana, on January 1, 2026. - Maxime Schmid/AFP/Getty Images

Tourists are drawn by its understated glamor, with high-end shopping and fine dining as well as extensive ski slopes and a lively apres-ski scene.

With a small population of around 15,000, the area is said to have a close-knit community as well as being a low-key place for celebrities to go skiing, golfing and dining.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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Several killed in fire at new year’s party in Swiss ski resort, police say

Several people have been killed and others injured in a fire at a new year's party at an Alpine ski resort in southern Switzerland, a p...
No. 6 Duke rallies past Georgia Tech to win ACC opener

Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer totaled a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds for No. 6 Duke, which fought off Georgia Tech for an 85-79 victory in both teams' Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Wednesday in Durham, N.C.

Isaiah Evans added 17 points, while Cayden Boozer scored 13 for Duke (12-1, 1-0 ACC), which rebounded from its first loss of the season - an 82-81 loss to then-No. 19 Texas Tech on Dec. 20. Caleb Foster had 12 points and Patrick Ngongba II tallied 11 points and nine boards for the Blue Devils, who trailed by four at halftime.

Kowacie Reeves Jr. tied his career high with 23 points to lead Georgia Tech (9-5, 0-1), which fell to 0-4 against major-conference opponents. Jaeden Mustaf scored 11, while Lamar Washington and Chas Kelley III had 10 points apiece for the Yellow Jackets, who were outrebounded 42-28.

Duke trailed by seven with 18:38 left after Reeves' 3-pointer gave Georgia Tech a 50-43 lead. Evans and Cayden Boozer's baskets then began the Blue Devils' 9-2 run, pulling even at 52 with 16:24 remaining.

Duke held the Yellow Jackets without a field goal for nearly seven minutes, before Kelley's triple trimmed the deficit to two at the 10:44 mark.

The Blue Devils' lead grew to seven on Foster's 3-pointer with 8:14 left. Nearly four minutes later, Mustaf's trey pulled Georgia Tech within two.

Akai Fleming and Ngongba traded a pair of free throws, as Duke grabbed a 78-75 lead with 3:04 remaining. Cayden Boozer's mid-range jumper with 1:28 left gave the Blue Devils a five-point cushion.

Behind by six, Georgia Tech sliced its deficit in half on Reeves' 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining.

Cameron Boozer made two foul shots, before Washington split a pair for Georgia Tech. Evans then calmly drilled his two free throws to seal the win.

After Fleming and Washington's back-to-back 3-pointers gave Georgia Tech a 9-3 lead, Evans' trey began a 7-0 Duke run.

Leading by a point, Georgia Tech pushed its advantage to five after Mouhamed Sylla's consecutive baskets put the visitors ahead 29-24 with 8:10 left in the first half.

Foster's second 3-pointer of the opening half gave Duke a 37-35 edge, but Mustaf's jumper and Kelley's personal 4-0 run returned the lead to the Yellow Jackets with 47 seconds remaining.

From there, Cameron Boozer's layup was answered by Reeves' mid-range jumper to close out the first half with Georgia Tech ahead 43-39.

--Field Level Media

No. 6 Duke rallies past Georgia Tech to win ACC opener

Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer totaled a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds for No. 6 Duke, which fought off Georgia ...
Alex Karaban helps No. 4 UConn rout Xavier

Alex Karaban scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead No. 4 UConn to a 90-67 Big East win over Xavier on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

Braylon Mullins amassed 17 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Huskies (13-1, 3-0 Big East).

Malik Messina-Moore led the Musketeers (9-5, 1-2) with 16 points.

Solo Ball came back after missing one game with a wrist injury to score 17 points for the Huskies, who outshot the Musketeers 53.2% (33-of-62) to 42.9% (24-of-56).

The Huskies dominated from the 3-point arc, hitting 13 of 28 (46.4%). The Musketeers struggled from long distance all night and were just 4 of 18 (22.2%) on 3-point attempts.

Xavier was able to get within 13 early in the second half when Roddie Anderson III laid in two of his 15 points to make it 53-40.

UConn answered with a 13-2 run with Ball hitting a 3-pointer to start the run and finishing it with a three-point play off a layup for a 66-42 UConn lead with 12:21 left.

The Huskies used a 17-2 run midway through the first half to build a 43-28 lead at the break.

UConn led 16-6 when Mullins hit a 3-pointer and Karaban scored five straight points with a layup and then a three-point play off a layup for a 24-6 lead with 12:39 left.

Tarris Reed Jr. went on an eight-point run of his own two minutes later with a three-point play off a dunk and a layup on the next possession to make it 30-6.

After Pape N'Diaye scored on a layup to stop the scoreless drought, Reed collected a second three-point play off a dunk for a 33-8 UConn lead.

Xavier had five of seven first-half turnovers during the run.

The Musketeers were able to outscore the Huskies 14-10 the rest of the way with Anderson scoring nine of points.

UConn was in command at that point, however, hitting 48.4% of its first-half shots (15-of-31), including 6-of-16 from the 3-point line.

The Musketeers only shot 37.5% from the floor (12-of-32) and missed all 10 of the 3-point shots they took.

UConn outrebounded Xavier 24-15 in the first half.

The Huskies jumped in front right away, hitting 6 of 12 shots to start the game. An early 7-0 run gave the Huskies a quick 12-point lead.

--Field Level Media

Alex Karaban helps No. 4 UConn rout Xavier

Alex Karaban scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead No. 4 UConn to a 90-67 Big East win over Xavier on We...

 

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