A devastating fire that erupted during New Year’s celebrations at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana has revealed alarming safety inspection failures, with authorities confirming no fire safety assessments had been conducted since 2019. The tragedy claimed 40 lives and left 116 injured, making it one of Switzerland’s deadliest nightclub disasters in recent history.
Investigative findings indicate the blaze originated from festive sparkling candles positioned atop Champagne bottles that ignited when they came into proximity with the ceiling. The criminal investigation now focuses on whether soundproofing materials complied with safety regulations and if the candles were legally permitted for indoor use. Valais regional prosecutors have opened a criminal case against the bar managers for suspected involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and negligently causing a fire.
Municipal authorities acknowledged with profound regret that mandatory periodic safety inspections lapsed for five consecutive years (2020-2025), despite previous assessments in 2016, 2018, and 2019 that had requested modifications. Nicolas Féraud, head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, expressed bitter regret over the oversight but could not immediately explain the inspection gap. The identification process proved particularly challenging due to the severity of burns, requiring DNA sampling from families to confirm victims.
In response to the catastrophe, local authorities have implemented immediate safety reforms including an indoor fireworks ban and commissioned an external agency to conduct future establishment inspections. The investigation continues to determine exact attendance numbers during the incident and whether previous modifications, including a 2015 veranda construction permit and interior work, contributed to the tragedy.