A night of New Year’s revelry at the luxury Swiss resort of Crans-Montana turned into one of the nation’s worst modern tragedies when a fire at Le Constellation bar claimed the lives of at least 40 people. On January 2, 2026, investigators confirmed that the blaze was likely ignited by “fountain candles” or sparklers attached to Champagne bottles, which set the venue’s ceiling alight.
The inferno, which began around 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, left 119 others injured, with nearly 100 currently in life-threatening condition at specialized burn units across Switzerland and neighboring countries.
Seconds to Disaster: The Investigation
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud stated that “everything leads us to believe” the fire started when staff, performing a celebratory show, moved bottles with lit sparklers too close to the ceiling. Witnesses described a “flashover” effect, where the fire engulfed the crowded basement venue in approximately ten seconds.
- Ceiling Composition: Investigators are probing whether acoustic foam panels or wooden fixtures in the ceiling were properly fireproofed, as the fire spread with “extreme rapidity.”
- Structural Bottleneck: Survivors reported a desperate scramble for the exit, noting that the basement event space was served by only a single, narrow staircase.
- Safety Standards: While authorities have ruled out an “attack” or terrorism, the investigation is now focused on whether the bar exceeded its 300-person capacity and if emergency exits were obstructed.
International Toll and Identification Crisis
As Crans-Montana entered a five-day period of national mourning, families from across Europe have gathered in a desperate search for news. The identification process is being described by officials as “grueling and sensitive,” involving DNA and dental records due to the severity of the burns.
| Nationality | Confirmed Injured | Reported Missing |
| Swiss | 71 | Under verification |
| Italian | 13 | 6 |
| French | 9 | 8 |
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited the site today, while Swiss President Guy Parmelin addressed the nation, calling the event a “calamity of unprecedented proportions.”
Medical System Under Strain
The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local healthcare. The Valais regional hospitals hit full capacity within hours, forcing the deployment of 10 helicopters and 40 ambulances to transport victims to national burn centers in Zurich, Lausanne, and Geneva. Authorities have urged tourists in the region to avoid skiing or hazardous activities this week to prevent further strain on the “exhausted” medical infrastructure.
