Winter's Grip: Europe Freezes, Iran Darkens, Swiss Fire Claims 41

Death Toll Rises in Swiss Bar Fire, Iran Faces Internet Blackout, and Poland Sees Frozen Baltic Sea

The death toll from a New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, rose to 41 after an 18-year-old injured in the blaze died, according to Euronews. The fire, which occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2026, also left 116 people injured, many of whom were teenagers.

Prosecutors believe the fire was likely caused by sparklers igniting soundproof foam on the ceiling of the crowded bar. Most of the victims were young, with some as young as 14 years old, Euronews reported.

Meanwhile, in Iran, the country experienced its longest internet blackout after protests broke out in early January, according to The Verge. The Iranian regime shut down the internet in an attempt to stop the protests from spreading. Sarah Jeong of The Verge noted that while the shutdown slowed the spread of information both inside and outside Iran, it did not stop the protests.

In Poland, extreme cold temperatures created rare winter scenes along the Baltic Sea coast. Euronews reported that visitors flocked to a frozen beach in Mikoszewo, northern Poland, on Saturday as temperatures dropped sharply, with forecasts warning of lows nearing minus 20 degrees Celsius. Large sections of the shoreline and the Vistula estuary were covered in ice, drawing crowds who walked along the beach and took photos of the unusual winter landscape. Visitors described the scene as striking and rare in scale, despite similar conditions occasionally occurring.