Deadly Swiss New Year’s Bar Fire Exposes Safety Lapses, Prompts Criminal Probe

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

CRANS-MONTANA/AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Fire safety inspections had not been carried out for several years at the Swiss mountain bar where a New Year’s party blaze killed 40 people and injured at least 116 others, local authorities confirmed Wednesday, as investigators widened a criminal probe into the tragedy.

Swiss officials believe the fire at Le Constellation in the resort town of Crans-Montana erupted shortly after 1:30 a.m. on January 1, when sparkling candles attached to Champagne bottles ignited the ceiling after being held too close to flammable material.

Investigators are examining whether the ceiling soundproofing met safety regulations and whether the use of such candles was permitted.

Prosecutors in the Valais region have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s managers, who are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntarily causing a fire, authorities said.

Municipal officials acknowledged that periodic safety inspections were not conducted between 2020 and 2025, despite earlier checks in 2016, 2018, and 2019.

YOUNG PEOPLE AMONG VICTIMS

“We regret this bitterly,” Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Féraud told a news conference, adding that authorities would “accept responsibility” and that judicial officials would thoroughly examine the findings.

The victims mainly included teenagers, young adults, and middle-aged people, many celebrating the New Year with friends.

Authorities said the victims included Swiss nationals as well as foreign visitors.

Swiss police confirmed that those killed came from several European countries, including Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey. Officials said the injured also included foreign nationals, with some transferred to hospitals abroad for specialized burn treatment.

SEVERITY OF BURNS

The severity of burns initially made identification difficult, requiring families to provide DNA samples, but investigators said all 40 victims have now been formally identified.

Several survivors remain in critical condition with severe burns. The Netherlands has joined international medical efforts, with Dutch burn specialists and hospitals assisting in treatment, including coordination of donated skin for graft procedures, medical sources said.

Authorities said the bar’s maximum permitted capacity was 200 people, split between the ground floor and basement, but the exact number inside at the time of the fire may never be known. Swiss officials have since announced a ban on indoor fireworks and ordered comprehensive inspections of nightlife venues.

The disaster has reopened painful memories in the Netherlands, coming 25 years after the deadly Volendam café fire, which killed 14 people and injured hundreds during New Year celebrations in 2001 — a tragedy that similarly exposed fatal safety failures and led to sweeping reforms.

As memorials grow outside the destroyed bar, officials said the investigation will focus on safety enforcement failures and accountability, while families across Europe mourn one of the deadliest nightclub fires in recent Swiss history.

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