Full Breakdown
Fire Engulfs Apartment Block in Thusis, Leaving Four Dead
8/24/2026, 12:21:15 AM
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
On the night of August 20, a blaze erupted on the second floor of a building that housed a restaurant and residential flats in the Alpine town of Thusis, eastern Switzerland. Graubünden cantonal police reported that the fire “entirely burned” the structure, prompting a response of nearly 100 firefighters. The roof had to be lifted with a crane after the stairwell collapsed, and the flames quickly consumed the upper levels. Fourteen occupants escaped; eight sustained injuries—two serious, two moderate and four minor—and were taken to hospitals in Chur, Thusis, Ilanz and Zurich.
Rescue Operations and Ongoing Search
Police confirmed on August 21 that five people were missing. By August 22, two bodies had been recovered from the debris, and on August 23 a further two bodies were found, bringing the confirmed death toll to four. Identification of the deceased remains incomplete. Authorities are removing the roof layer by layer to access the collapsed stairwell, and a cantonal police spokeswoman told Keystone-SDA that any human remains will be subjected to DNA testing. She added that the search for the remaining missing persons could continue for days.
Investigation and Official Response
Both the Graubünden cantonal police and the public prosecutor’s office have opened investigations into the cause of the fire. As of the latest statements, the cause is still under review and no definitive findings have been released.
Impact and Context
Thusis lies in the Graubünden (Grisons) region, a popular destination for winter sports and summer nature activities. A number of foreign nationals were staying in the building at the time of the fire, according to the police spokeswoman.
What Comes Next
The ongoing rescue effort will focus on locating any remaining missing individuals and completing forensic identification of the victims. Police have indicated that the search may extend for several more days, with DNA analysis playing a central role in confirming identities.
