Swiss Resort Fire Likely Started By Sparkler Candles, Many of the Injured Fighting for Their Lives

Reuters

Flowers and candles are left near the "Le Constellation" bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland, 2 January 2026.

Dozens of young revellers injured in a devastating New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland have been transferred to specialist burn units across Europe, as authorities confirmed the death toll has reached at least 40.

The blaze broke out at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, injuring 119 people, many of them seriously. Swiss officials warned that the number of fatalities could rise and said it may take days to formally identify all those killed due to the severity of the burns.

Initial findings suggest the fire was triggered by sparkler-style “fountain candles” or Bengal lights attached to champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling, according to local prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud. She said the fire spread rapidly through the venue, though the cause has not yet been definitively confirmed.

Investigators are also examining whether insulation foam in the ceiling contributed to the speed and intensity of the blaze. Authorities said further inquiries would determine whether criminal negligence was involved.

“Many of those injured are still fighting for their lives,” said Mathias Reynard, head of the Valais region, at a press conference. Around 50 injured people have been, or will be, transferred to specialised burn centres in other European countries, including Germany and France, he added.

Police chief Frédéric Gisler said that 113 injured individuals had been identified so far, including 71 Swiss, 14 French, 11 Italian, four Serbian, and one each from Bosnia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal and Luxembourg.

Survivors described scenes of panic and desperation as people attempted to escape. One witness, identified only as Axel, said he survived by sheltering behind a table in the basement before breaking a window to escape, adding that the only exit door was too narrow for the number of people trying to flee.

A 16-year-old Italian international golfer, Emanuele Galeppini, was the first victim to be publicly identified. The Italian Golf Federation paid tribute, describing him as “a young athlete who embodied passion and strong values”.

Families of missing youths gathered near the site, desperately seeking information. “We are in shock. We embrace one another and cry, trying to give each other hope,” said Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son remains missing.

Foreign governments have been working urgently to account for their citizens. Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said 13 Italians were hospitalised and six were missing. France’s embassy said eight French nationals were unaccounted for, while nine others were receiving medical care.

Residents and visitors to Crans-Montana, a popular destination for skiing and golf, expressed deep shock. Mourners left flowers and lit candles at a makeshift memorial near the cordoned-off bar, as the community grappled with one of the deadliest tragedies in modern Swiss history.

Source: Reuters



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