Turn of the year Start to the new year with fireworks, Cüpli and injuries
The thick fog covered New Year's Eve at the Zurich lake basin with a special light during the fireworks display.
Image: Keystone
At the silent disco, revelers dance to specially selected music on their headphones.
Image: Keystone
Magic candles, fireworks and Cüpli delight the revelers on New Year's Eve.
Image: Keystone
In Laupen BE, the "Bäsemannen" lead the people into the new year on New Year's Eve.
Image: Keystone
The thick fog covered New Year's Eve at the Zurich lake basin with a special light during the fireworks display.
Image: Keystone
At the silent disco, revelers dance to specially selected music on their headphones.
Image: Keystone
Magic candles, fireworks and Cüpli delight the revelers on New Year's Eve.
Image: Keystone
In Laupen BE, the "Bäsemannen" lead the people into the new year on New Year's Eve.
Image: Keystone
Switzerland started the new year on Wednesday night in the freezing cold. In addition to sparkling wine and parties, New Year's Eve also included accidents.
01.01.2025, 01:35
01.01.2025, 15:14
SDA
For example, a 36-year-old man in the canton of St. Gallen blew off his left forearm with fireworks. He was also injured in the face and the rest of his body. According to the cantonal police, he had been making fireworks himself and handling firework ingredients. This resulted in an explosion.
There were also other injuries in the canton of St. Gallen. In Wattwil, unknown persons detonated fireworks in the crowd during the New Year's Eve party in the market hall. Five men and three women between the ages of 18 and 22 were injured as a result. Three people were slightly injured in Birchwil. Two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old teenager were hit by an overturned firework battery.
Police as "friend and helper"
The St. Gallen cantonal police also reported some amusing stories. For example, an 83-year-old woman who unintentionally activated the SOS emergency call on her wristband in her sleep. She was "visibly pleased" that the St. Gallen cantonal police were the first to wish her a Happy New Year.
The police also helped a heavily intoxicated woman out of trouble who was left alone in the restaurant with her partner after an argument at a New Year's Eve dinner and was unable to pay the bill for the gala dinner, which was several hundred francs high, due to insufficient cash and an unsecured credit card.
Injuries and window collapse in Saas Fee VS
There were also injuries in Saas Fee in Valais when a firework exploded in a crowd of people. Four people were injured, one 14-year-old girl was taken to Lausanne University Hospital with serious burns. The other three people with minor injuries were treated as outpatients on site or at the hospital in Visp. An 18-year-old was arrested in order to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
In addition, a 20-year-old also fell 7 meters from a window in Saas Fee at around 01:30. He was seriously injured and taken to hospital in Sion. According to a police statement, the possibility of third parties is currently ruled out.
In Hohenrain, Lucerne, a 15-year-old was also seriously injured when he tried to light a commercially available rocket. For reasons still unknown, the rocket detonated while still on the ground. He was flown to hospital in a rescue helicopter.
Rubber shot after illegal party
In Zurich, the police broke up an illegal party after a container was set on fire and streetcars were demolished and sprayed in connection with the party. During the dispersal of the party, the police were shot at with fireworks, whereupon they used rubber bullets, according to a statement.
In addition, a woman reported sexual harassment in Zurich and the alleged perpetrator was arrested. Two men were also arrested for firing fireworks at people, two men for theft and one man for using a firearm.
No other major incidents have been reported by the Swiss police so far. Overall, they reported the usual arguments between drunk people, smaller and larger fires, break-ins and improperly fired fireworks, particularly against buildings, but sometimes also against people.
Celebrating with ice skates and Cüpli
Overall, New Year's Eve seems to have passed off more or less peacefully. Traditionally, various festivities accompanied the turn of the year. The highlight of New Year's Eve in Zurich was the 15-minute fireworks display in the night sky over Lake Zurich. According to the police, several tens of thousands of people were in attendance.
Bells rang out in many places. A silent disco was held at the Bô Noël Christmas market in Lausanne, where visitors could dance to the sounds of their choice with the help of headphones. And in some places, there were night-time tobogganing or ice-skating events with Cüpli.
The Nez Rouge volunteer drivers were once again on hand to ensure that the party-goers got home safely. According to the press release, they brought a good 5100 people home safely. More than 1,200 people were on duty and made almost 2,200 journeys.
