Bagnes Carnival: Explosion on Float Injures Eleven
- Saturday, February 14, 2026 – An explosion on a carnival float in Le Châble, Valais, Switzerland, injured eleven people, one seriously, during a parade this afternoon.
- The Valais cantonal police confirmed the incident to Le Nouvelliste and are currently investigating the cause, suspecting a technical defect in the system on the float.
- Emergency services, including police, fire department, and rescue teams, responded to the scene on a large scale.
Carnival Float Explosion Injures Eleven in Switzerland
– An explosion on a carnival float in Le Châble, Valais, Switzerland, injured eleven people, one seriously, during a parade this afternoon. The incident occurred when a compressor on a confetti cannon malfunctioned, according to reports.
The Valais cantonal police confirmed the incident to Le Nouvelliste and are currently investigating the cause, suspecting a technical defect in the system on the float. Eyewitnesses described a “violent detonation” that ripped open a side wall of the vehicle, with the sound reportedly heard throughout the valley.
Emergency services, including police, fire department, and rescue teams, responded to the scene on a large scale. Injured individuals were treated at the scene before being transported to various hospitals in the region. Reports also indicate that some people were injured near a Migros supermarket.
The explosion took place during the carnival procession in Bagnes. Authorities were alerted to the incident at approximately 6:43 PM local time, according to SDA. The confetti cannon compressor is believed to have been the source of the blast.
This incident follows a separate incident at the Rio Carnival earlier this week, where at least eleven people were injured when a float partially collapsed. On Sunday, February 27, 2017, at least 20 people were injured when a float crashed into a fence during the Rio celebrations, according to CNN. While geographically distant, both events highlight the potential dangers associated with large-scale carnival parades and the complex machinery involved.
Carnival parades, while festive, involve intricate floats and equipment, and accidents, though rare, can occur. Ranker.com notes that parade float accidents can result in injuries from being struck by the float, caught between the float and towing vehicle, or even electrocution from contact with power lines.
The Valais cantonal police have not released further details regarding the condition of the seriously injured individual or the specific nature of the technical defect that caused the explosion. An investigation is ongoing.