Swiss authorities have confirmed the identities of all forty people who lost their lives in a devastating fire at a bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve. The blaze, which rapidly engulfed Le Constellation, also left 119 people injured, with some still fighting for their lives.
A Flashover Ignited by Celebration
Investigators believe the fire was caused by revellers waving champagne bottles plugged with sparklers. The flames are thought to have ignited soundproofing material on the ceiling, leading to a catastrophic 'flashover' that likely set the entire interior alight in seconds. The victims, many of whom were teenagers celebrating the start of 2025, hailed from seven different nations.
Twenty-six of the forty fatalities were aged between 14 and 18. The severity of the fire meant some victims could only be identified through DNA analysis. The nationalities of those who died include Swiss, Italian, French, British, Israeli, Romanian, Belgian, Portuguese, Turkish, and Emirati citizens.
Owners Under Investigation as Safety Questions Mount
The French owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under formal investigation on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Prosecutors are examining whether the ceiling material complied with safety regulations.
Mr Moretti told Swiss media they were cooperating fully and stated the bar had been inspected "three times in 10 years." However, local laws reportedly require annual inspections for public buildings. Former staff have made damning allegations about safety standards, claiming fire extinguishers were kept in a locked room and the emergency exit was frequently secured.
One ex-employee, Maxime, told French network BFM: "Unlike in other places where I’ve worked, the fire extinguishers were kept in a room that was locked. There was definitely a risk." Another, named Sarah, said waitresses were encouraged to use sparklers in bottles to "put on a show for customers."
Remembering the Victims
In recent days, families and authorities have begun to release the names of those who perished, painting a picture of young lives full of promise cut tragically short.
Charlotte Niddam, 15, held British, French, and Israeli citizenship. She had attended school in Hertfordshire and London and worked as a babysitter in the resort. Her family confirmed her death on social media.
Benjamin Johnson, 18, a promising boxer from Lausanne, was hailed as a hero. The Swiss Boxing Federation stated that, according to witnesses, he died while saving a friend, "thus allowing her to survive."
Emanuele Galeppini, 17, was a talented young golfer from Genoa who lived in Dubai and attended the Swiss International School. The Italian Golf Federation paid tribute to "a young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values."
Other victims include Arthur Brodard, 16, from Switzerland; Italian teenagers Giovanni Tamburi, Achille Barosi, Chiara Costanzo, Riccardo Minghetti, and Sofia Prosperi; and Tristan Pidoux, 17, from Switzerland. The community, both in Crans-Montana and across Europe, is united in grief as the full scale of the tragedy becomes clear.
