People mourn as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the "Le Constellation" bar, after a deadly fire and explosion during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland, January 4, 2026. REUTERS/Umit Bektas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
(Switzerland) – Witnesses say that sparklers on champagne bottles sparked the fatal fire at a Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland that killed at least 40 people, and injured 119 others. Many of the victims were young adults and some teenagers. Analysts have said that while it was the sparklers most likely to blame for the blaze, there were other aspects of the tragedy that could and should have been avoided. Here is everything we know as more shocking video from victims and witnesses come to light:
Flames Spread, So Does Panic
Regional Chief Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud says the small pyrotechnics meant to bring a festive flare caught the foam ceiling in the crowded basement bar. The flames rapidly spread as the foam is made of highly flammable polyurethane. The uncovered foam also broke with local regulations as fire safety laws require a flammable material like that to have some sort of buffer. Party goers can still be heard partying and celebrating as the flames first begin to spread on the ceiling, with some people going towards the flames to take videos.
Victims We Know So Far
This Saturday, authorities began releasing the identities of the victims lost in the fire. Many Swiss, French and Italian nationals made up the victims, however most names have still not been publicly disclosed. We do have some details however, including the aforementioned ages and background. Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old Italian golfer, is the first victim to be publicly named. The drinking age in this ski resort town is 16, yet there are victims as young as 14. Families were being directed to a conference center outside of the resort town, and a hotline was also set up.
Criminal Charges for Club Owners
The club is owned by a French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who first opened the club in 2015. They are facing charges of suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence. While the acoustic foam is being largely blamed for the fire, the amount of fatalities is being blamed on the narrow staircase, lack of sprinklers, and confusion over the emergency exit. An owner of an architect firm in the same building claims there was in fact an emergency exit, yet video shows people breaking glass panels to try and help the trapped victims. Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland Gian Lorenzo Coronado said they will be looking at legal recourse. In an interview the day after the tragedy, Jacques Moretti told Swiss newspaper Tribune de Genève that everything was up to code and the club had been inspected three times in the past decade.
