Deadly Alps bar fire leaves 40 dead, 115 injured

Authorities are investigating a deadly fire that tore through a bar in the Alps just after midnight on New Year’s Day, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 115. The blaze broke out around 2 a.m. on January 1, 2026. Two women who escaped told a French broadcaster the fire may have been sparked by sparklers and champagne celebrations. The area’s older wooden structures may have fueled the rapid spread of flames. The investigation remains ongoing.