Executive Summary
- A fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed approximately 40 people and injured 115 during New Year’s celebrations.
- Witness reports and video evidence suggest sparklers attached to bottles ignited the ceiling’s soundproofing material.
- Victims are predominantly young adults and teenagers, with citizens from Italy, France, and Greece reported missing.
- Swiss Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed an investigation is underway to examine safety standards and emergency exits.
Swiss authorities have launched a major investigation into a catastrophic fire at a ski resort bar in Crans-Montana that claimed the lives of approximately 40 people and injured 115 others during New Year’s celebrations. The blaze, which tore through Le Constellation bar in the southern Swiss Alps, has left the local community and multiple European nations mourning the loss of victims described by medical officials as predominantly teenagers and young adults.
The fire reportedly broke out around 1:30 a.m. local time on January 1. According to witnesses and video footage verified by news agencies, the inferno appears to have been ignited by sparklers attached to champagne bottles, which subsequently set fire to the ceiling’s soundproofing material. Swiss official Stéphane Ganzer confirmed to reporters that around 40 people are known to have died, contradicting earlier reports from Italian sources that suggested a higher death toll. Ganzer further noted that between 80 and 100 people sustained serious injuries, with some suffering third-degree burns covering significant portions of their bodies.
Emergency response teams described a chaotic scene as patrons attempted to flee the rapidly spreading flames. One witness, Elliot Alvarez, told AFP that the bar was an institution in the town and described seeing severe burn victims receiving treatment in the snow. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud stated that the investigation will rigorously determine whether safety standards were respected, specifically examining the width of staircases and the accessibility of emergency exits. Officials have so far refused to comment on the specific speculation regarding the sparklers, stating the technical cause remains under formal review.
The tragedy has international implications, as the resort is popular with tourists from across Europe. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that 19 Italian citizens were involved, with six reported missing and 13 hospitalized. French and Greek authorities also indicated that their citizens are among the missing. Identification of the victims is expected to be a prolonged process, with Swiss police warning it could take days or weeks due to the severity of the fire.
Investigative Outlook
The primary focus of the ongoing inquiry will likely center on regulatory compliance regarding the use of indoor pyrotechnics and the flammability of building materials. Investigators will assess whether the soundproofing foam used on the ceiling met current Swiss fire safety codes and if the venue’s occupancy levels and exit routes were within legal limits. As Attorney General Pilloud indicated, the probe will establish if there were lapses in enforcing safety standards, which could lead to questions regarding criminal negligence or regulatory oversight failures in the hospitality sector. It is important to note that the investigation is in its preliminary stages, and no formal charges have been filed against any individuals or entities at this time.
