Fire engulfs mixed-use building in Thusis, five missing, eight injured

A blaze erupted late on Tuesday night at a mixed‑use building that houses a restaurant and residential apartments in the town of Thusis, in the Viamala Region of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Local fire crews reported that five people are missing and eight others have been taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to burns. The incident, which broke out shortly after 22:00, prompted the deployment of more than a dozen fire engines and a coordinated rescue effort that included Swiss Air Rescue helicopters.

Thusis, a small municipality of roughly 3,000 inhabitants nestled at the foot of the Albula Alps, has long been a hub for tourists traveling the historic Albula railway line and the scenic routes that connect the Engadin valley to the rest of Switzerland. The town’s economy relies heavily on hospitality, retail and cross‑border trade with neighboring Italy and Austria. The affected building, located on the main thoroughfare near the historic St. Martin’s Church, is typical of the region’s compact urban fabric, where ground‑floor commercial premises are often topped by apartments that house local families and seasonal workers.

Swiss authorities have opened a preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire. Initial statements from the Graubünden cantonal police indicate that the blaze may have started in the restaurant’s kitchen area, though a definitive origin has yet to be confirmed. Fire safety inspections are standard practice in the canton, and buildings constructed before the 1990s are subject to periodic retrofitting to meet modern fire‑resistance standards. The mixed‑use nature of the structure, however, presents particular challenges: kitchen equipment can generate high temperatures, while residential units above may lack the fire‑blocking measures required in newer constructions. Emergency responders faced difficulties navigating narrow alleys and stairwells, which slowed evacuation efforts and complicated the search for the missing occupants.

The missing persons are believed to be residents of the upper apartments, according to the municipal office, which has set up a temporary shelter for displaced families and is coordinating with the Red Cross for humanitarian assistance. The injured have been transported to the regional hospital in Chur, where specialists are treating burn victims and monitoring for carbon monoxide poisoning. Local officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any signs of smoke, emphasizing that the community’s tight‑knit nature means that many families are interdependent and rely on swift mutual aid in emergencies.

Mayor Andreas Schmid, speaking to the press on Wednesday, expressed “deep concern” for those affected and pledged that the municipal council would accelerate any pending upgrades to fire detection and suppression systems in older buildings. He also highlighted the town’s ongoing collaboration with cantonal authorities to improve emergency response protocols, including the recent installation of additional fire hydrants and the training of volunteer fire brigades in high‑rise rescue techniques. The mayor’s remarks come amid a broader national dialogue in Switzerland about the balance between preserving historic urban layouts and ensuring contemporary safety standards.

While the incident is a localized tragedy, its repercussions extend beyond Thusis. The town is a waypoint on the Alpine transit corridor that channels goods and tourists between northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Disruptions to local hospitality services can ripple through regional supply chains, affecting vendors, transport operators and seasonal workers who depend on the steady flow of visitors. Moreover, the fire underscores the importance of rigorous building codes in a country where many communities are built on steep terrain and in close proximity, where a single incident can quickly threaten lives and economic activity. The response to the Thusis blaze may prompt a reassessment of fire safety measures in similar mixed‑use structures across the Graubünden canton, reinforcing Switzerland’s reputation for high standards in public safety and disaster preparedness.