Swiss police confirm four dead after fire at residential building in Thusis
Cantonal police in Graubünden confirmed on Sunday that rescue workers recovered the bodies of the last two missing individuals from a burned residential and commercial building in Thusis, bringing the total death toll to four.
Recovery of victims in Thusis
Emergency services in the Swiss canton of Graubünden concluded their search operation on Sunday, 23 August 2026, after locating the bodies of the last two missing individuals inside a fire-damaged building in Thusis. The discovery brought the confirmed death toll to four following the overnight blaze. Cantonal authorities had initially reported finding two bodies while two other residents remained unaccounted for within the debris. A police statement issued on Saturday had referenced a search for five missing people, but authorities later clarified that this figure was a misunderstanding and confirmed that only four people were missing. Search and rescue personnel were able to advance their recovery work faster than initially anticipated, allowing them to thoroughly search the entire property over the course of the weekend.
Evacuation and emergency response
The fire broke out on Friday, 21 August 2026, shortly after midnight on the second floor of the multi-storey property. A total of 14 people managed to flee the burning building to safety as the fire developed. Among those who escaped, eight individuals suffered injuries, including two people who sustained severe injuries requiring immediate medical attention. First responders faced severe hazards when the interior staircase of the building collapsed during the fire. To continue operations safely, firefighters and rescue teams dismantled the roof of the structure layer by layer on Friday to access the upper storeys and secure the site.
- Fire breaks out on the second floor, and 14 occupants flee the building.
- Firefighters dismantle the roof layer by layer following an interior staircase collapse.
- Investigators and rescue specialists continue searching the debris with an aerial platform.
- Cantonal police confirm the discovery of the final two bodies, ending the search.
Structural collapse and site clearance
The building housed Restaurant Beverin on the ground floor, with small residential studio apartments situated across the three storeys above. The studios were predominantly occupied by single individuals representing multiple nationalities. Rescue workers and fire investigation specialists remained on the scene throughout Saturday afternoon, navigating the compromised building structure. Emergency crews deployed a specialised aerial rescue vehicle equipped with a movable articulated crane arm to reach the elevated levels safely. These mechanical measures enabled emergency teams to comb through the entire interior despite the extensive structural collapse.
- Escaped safely
- 14 people
- Total injured
- 8 people
- Severely injured
- 2 people
- Fatalities
- 4 people
Investigation into the cause
The Graubünden public prosecutor's office and the Graubünden cantonal police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the cause and exact circumstances of the fire. Authorities confirmed that the cause of the fire on the second floor remained undetermined through the weekend. Forensic teams must collect and match DNA samples to establish the formal identities of the deceased individuals, a process that police warned could take several days.
The cantonal police explained in a public statement why identity details remain confidential while scientific testing proceeds.
The identification of the individuals found is not yet complete. For this reason, no further information about the affected persons is currently being provided.
Forensic specialists and cantonal investigators plan to continue technical site assessments in Thusis to establish how the fire started.
