While the world welcomed 2026 with champagne and fireworks, a Swiss ski resort turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Justin Rose’s heartfelt tribute on social media captured what many felt when news broke from Crans-Montana.

“Thoughts are with everyone in Crans Montana 🙏,” Justin Rose wrote on X, his message amplifying the grief felt as Crans-Montana had hosted the European Tour just five months prior.

The fire erupted at the Constellation bar around 1:30 am (19: 30 ET), transforming celebration into catastrophe within minutes.  This “one of the worst tragedies that the country has experienced” claimed 40 lives and heavily injured 115 people. Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old Italian golfer, was one of those 40 people.

The Genoa-born amateur made Dubai his home in recent years. Galeppini won the 2025 Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open and was a popular face in the junior golf circle in the Middle East. His instagram profiled featured a picture with European captain, Luke Donald, and Rory McIlroy.

“The Italian Golf Federation mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried passion and authentic values with him. At this time of great sorrow, our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him. Emanuele, you will forever remain in our hearts,” The Italian Golf Federation noted in a statement.

The majority of casualties are believed to be tourists who came to Crans-Montana for the holiday season. Emergency crews battled flames in sub-zero temperatures while evacuating surrounding buildings. Investigators continue examining the cause, but the police have clarified that it was a fire incident and not a planned attack.

For golf’s global community, Crans-Montana is more than just alpine skiing—it’s an important part of the DP World Tour.

The 2025 Omega European Masters held here saw Thriston Lawrence claim victory at 22-under par, edging Matt Wallace, Sami Valimaki, and Rasmus Højgaard by two shots. Lawrence earned $552,500 from the $3.25 million purse, competing against a 156-player field featuring Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Keita Nakajima.

The venue’s rich competitive history makes this moment even more sobering.

Crans-sur-Sierre’s Severiano Ballesteros Course has hosted tournament golf since 1939, perched 1,500 meters above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Matt Fitzpatrick, a two-time winner here in 2017 and 2018, returned for his ninth appearance in 2025. The Spanish legend himself won here seven times between 1977 and 1989, transforming the course with renovations that emphasized short-game precision. This year, too, it will also host the Omega European Masters, scheduled from Thursday, September 3, to Sunday, September 6.

Talking about the fire, those who survived paint a harrowing picture of what happened inside.

Top Stories

Huge Fire Destroys Over 125-Year-Old Golf Club Designed by 5x Open Winner in London – Report

Scottie Scheffler’s Caddie Shares Cryptic Message as He Bids Fans ‘Goodbye’

Brooks Koepka’s LIV Golf Exit Explained as Ex-Pro Reveals Brutal Reality

Tiger Woods’ Warm Moment With Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Caught on Camera at Son Charlie’s Junior Event

Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren’s Reaction to Tiger Woods Dating Vanessa Trump Speaks Volumes

Witness accounts: How the fire unfolded at Crans Montana

According to reports and witnesses, within seconds, flames spread through the wooden interior of Le Constellation, trapping partygoers in the basement. People pushed their way through small staircases and broke windows as smoke filled the room. Some people broke glass with their bare hands. Some people climbed over barriers, as there weren’t enough exits.

Witnesses told French TV stations that they observed sparklers tied to champagne bottles that were too close to the ceiling, where they could catch fire, during New Year’s toasts. Flashover followed, when all the combustible vapor ignited at once due to the heat that had built up. Officials said that the fast spread made the basement a death trap, leaving no time for an organized escape.

Hospitals across the Valais region couldn’t handle the critically burned patients. Helicopters ferried victims to specialized burn centers in Lausanne and Zurich. Some crossed international borders for treatment. Air ambulances filled the alpine sky as ground units managed the volume of casualties.

Investigators scrutinize facility design and safety protocols as witnesses pointed out that there were only a few ways out of the basement.