UPDATE: Jews are Missing and Injured in Deadly Swiss Explosion

Several members of the local Jewish community were injured in a powerful explosion that tore through a bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Crans‑Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with one community member still unaccounted for, according to local Jewish leaders.

Swiss authorities say the blast, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. at the underground Le Constellation bar, killed at least dozens of people and injured roughly 100 others, many seriously. The exact death toll has not yet been officially confirmed, and authorities have not reported any Israeli nationals among the victims.

The explosion happened near the local synagogue serving the small Jewish community in Crans-Montana. Rabbi Yitzhak Levi, the local Chabad‑Lubavitch emissary, said several members of the community were injured by the force of the blast and flying debris.

“We heard a massive explosion in the middle of the night and immediately understood that something terrible had happened,” Rabbi Levi said. “Within minutes the streets were filled with people, ambulances, and rescue forces. It was complete chaos.”

According to Rabbi Levi, at least one member of the Jewish community remains unreachable hours after the explosion. Community members have been working closely with emergency services to locate the missing individual and account for all residents.

The bar where the explosion occurred was reportedly packed with more than 100 people celebrating the New Year. Witnesses described it as a confined underground venue with narrow entrances and limited emergency exits, complicating evacuation efforts. Swiss emergency services deployed roughly 40 ambulances and 10 rescue helicopters, transferring victims to hospitals across the canton of Valais and beyond. Intensive care units in the region quickly reached capacity.

Rabbi Levi said there was initial concern within the community that the incident could have been a targeted attack. “There was real fear at first that this might be a terror incident directed at the synagogue or the Jewish community,” he said. “At this stage, authorities have made clear that this is not the case.”

Swiss officials have firmly ruled out terrorism. The chief prosecutor of Valais canton said investigators have excluded the possibility of an attack, though the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Early media speculation has pointed to possible pyrotechnics used during the celebration, but authorities have urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions.

The canton of Valais has declared a special emergency status to mobilize additional resources. Switzerland’s president announced the postponement of his New Year’s address out of respect for the victims and their families.

Crans-Montana is a major international ski destination, and authorities confirmed that victims include tourists from multiple countries. Names of the dead and injured have not yet been released. Police said updates will follow as identification efforts continue and the investigation progresses.