Summary
The federal government and cantons are intensifying their cooperation to support victims and families affected by the Crans-Montana fire disaster. The EJPD is examining additional measures to ensure rapid and unbureaucratic assistance. Cantonal victim support offices offer both immediate emergency aid and medium- and long-term support in accordance with the Victim Support Act. Weekly coordination meetings between the EJPD and the SODK are intended to ensure that those affected receive sufficient resources.
Persons
- Federal Council and cantonal social affairs directors
Topics
- Victim support and emergency aid
- Federal-cantonal coordination
- Psychosocial and financial support
- Insurance and criminal law matters
Detailed Summary
The Crans-Montana fire disaster has had massive impacts on the affected persons and their families. The federal government and cantonal victim support offices have set themselves the goal of providing victims with rapid and unbureaucratic assistance.
Emergency aid and immediate measures: According to the Victim Support Act (OHG), victims of criminal offenses and their relatives are entitled to support. Emergency aid includes medical services, psychological care, travel and accommodation costs for relatives, and legal advice. Cantonal victim support offices are currently making contact with affected persons and families in Switzerland and abroad.
Intensified cooperation: The EJPD and SODK have strengthened their coordination. Since January 2026, weekly coordination meetings have been taking place to ensure that victim counseling offices have sufficient resources and that services are coordinated between cantons.
Medium- and long-term support: The consequences of the disaster are severe. Those affected are confronted with high medical costs and complex legal issues. Cantonal victim compensation authorities can provide advances, for example for funeral costs or loss of earnings. The federal government can provide financial support to the cantons if costs are exceptionally high – a decision that ultimately rests with Parliament.
The EJPD is currently examining whether there are gaps in the existing support offerings and whether additional measures are required.
Key Messages
- Emergency aid includes medical services, psychological care, and legal advice
- Weekly coordination meetings between federal government and cantons are intended to prevent resource bottlenecks
- Medium- and long-term services cover complex insurance and legal matters
- Parliamentary decision required for additional federal financing in case of extraordinary costs
- Comprehensive support is the goal: No one should fall through the cracks of available assistance
Stakeholders & Those Affected
| Group | Status |
|---|---|
| Victims and relatives | Directly affected; receive emergency aid and long-term support |
| Cantonal victim support offices | Responsible for emergency aid; require additional resources |
| EJPD and BJ | Coordinate measures and examine additional support |
| SODK | Coordinates cantonal services and coordination |
| Insurance companies | Must clarify liability, health, and accident insurance benefits |
| Parliament | Decision on additional federal financing |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Rapid, coordinated assistance through weekly coordination | Resource bottlenecks in smaller cantons |
| Comprehensive emergency aid (medical, psychological, legal) | Complex insurance claims lead to delays |
| Financial advances for immediate costs | Insufficient federal financing for high total costs |
| Psychosocial support for trauma recovery | Varying cantonal service standards |
| Parliamentary flexibility for additional funds | Gaps in support offerings not yet identified |
Action Relevance
Decision-makers should:
- Review resource allocation: Cantonal victim support offices need sufficient staff and budget for intensive care
- Support coordination process: Weekly SODK meetings should be equipped with sufficient information and authority
- Accelerate gap analysis: The EJPD should quickly identify deficiencies in existing offerings
- Parliamentary preparation: Possible additional financing should be presented to Parliament in a timely manner
- Insurance coordination: Clarification of liability and insurance claims should be prioritized
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] All information taken from the press release
- [x] No unconfirmed data included
- [x] No apparent political bias
Supplementary Research
The following sources could be helpful for further information:
- Federal Office of Justice (BJ) – Victim Support Act (OHG) and current guidelines
- SODK (Conference of Cantonal Social Affairs Directors) – Coordination resolutions and service standards
- Swiss media reports on the Crans-Montana fire disaster for context and extent of damage
Bibliography
Primary Source:
Press release from the Federal Department of Justice and Police (EJPD) – Published January 9, 2026
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/I_1_W3H4tpebB1FaFXsj6
Supplementary Sources:
- Federal Office of Justice (BJ) – Victim Support Act (OHG)
- SODK – Guidelines for victim support and emergency aid
- Swiss media coverage of the Crans-Montana fire disaster (January 2026)
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on January 9, 2026
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Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: January 9, 2026