A catastrophic fire that erupted in a Swiss bar during New Year's celebrations has claimed the lives of 40 people, with more than half of the victims aged 18 or under. The blaze at Le Constellation in the ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of 1 January has left an international community in mourning.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The inferno is believed to have started around 1:30am when wait staff waved champagne bottles plugged with sparklers close to the ceiling. Investigators say this rapidly triggered a 'flashover', igniting much of the venue in seconds and making escape almost impossible for many inside.
Of the 40 victims, 26 were aged between 14 and 18. Some were so badly burnt they could only be identified through DNA analysis. In total, 116 people were injured, with 83 still in hospital as of Monday afternoon, some fighting for their lives.
The victims hailed from seven different countries. They included 21 Swiss nationals, six Italians, and five French citizens. Among the dead were also individuals holding British, Israeli, Romanian, Belgian, Portuguese, Turkish, and Emirati nationalities.
Heartbreaking Tributes to Young Lives Lost
Families have begun to confirm the identities of their loved ones, painting a picture of vibrant young lives cut short.
Sisters Alicia and Diana Gunst, aged 15 and 14 from Lausanne, were celebrating the New Year. They were members of the local Jewish community, which said it was devastated by their loss.
Matéo Lesguer, 23, a French music producer known as Neoshy, was performing a DJ set at the bar. A friend revealed he had taken the gig to pay off a student loan, planning it to be his last before pursuing his true passions.
Benjamin Johnson, 18, a promising boxer from Lausanne, was hailed a hero. The Swiss Boxing Federation stated he died while saving a friend, an act they said reflected his character.
Other young victims included Noa Thévenot El Kaim Billah, 14, a talented footballer from France; Emanuele Galeppini, 17, a rising golf star from Italy; and Charlotte Niddam, 15, who held British, French, and Israeli citizenship and had attended school in Hertfordshire.
The oldest victim identified so far is Giovanni Putelli, 39, a French-Italian father of two young children.
Criminal Investigation and Safety Failings Alleged
Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the bar's French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti. They are suspected of manslaughter, bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence.
Investigators are examining whether the soundproofing material on the ceiling, thought to have been ignited by the sparklers, met safety standards. Former staff have come forward with damning allegations about safety standards at Le Constellation.
One ex-employee, named Maxime, claimed fire extinguishers were kept in a locked room. Another, Sarah, alleged the emergency exit was routinely locked and that staff were encouraged to use sparklers in champagne bottles to 'put on a show'.
Owner Jacques Moretti told Swiss media the bar had been inspected "three times in 10 years," despite local laws reportedly requiring annual checks for public buildings.
As funerals begin and bodies are repatriated, the resort of Crans-Montana held a silent march on Sunday. The community, and nations across Europe, are now demanding answers to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
