Death toll from Swiss New Year Alpine bar fire increases to 41

The death toll from a New Year's Day fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old Swiss national died from injuries sustained in the blaze. The fire, which also injured 115 others, is one of the worst disasters in Swiss history. Authorities believe the fire started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound insulation foam in the bar's basement. A criminal investigation has been launched into the bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence. Investigators are also examining whether the foam met safety standards and if the sparklers were permitted, noting that fire safety inspections hadn't occurred since 2019. The victims were aged 14 to 39 and included 23 Swiss nationals and 18 foreigners.

The death toll from a New Year's Day fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old Swiss national died in hospital on January 31. The fire, which occurred on January 1, 2026, also injured 115 others, many of whom remain hospitalized. Victims ranged in age from 14 to 39 and included 23 Swiss nationals and 18 foreigners, including French, Italian, Belgian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Turkish citizens. Investigators believe the fire was ignited when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound insulation foam on the ceiling. Four individuals are under criminal investigation, including the bar's co-owners, the municipality's head of public safety, and a former fire safety officer. Injured patients were treated in hospitals across Switzerland and in France, Italy, Germany, and Belgium.

A teenager injured in the New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has died, raising the death toll to 41. The fire, which injured 116 others, is believed to have started when sparklers ignited soundproof foam in the bar's basement. Many victims, including eight under 16, are still hospitalized with severe burns, some in foreign countries. The bar owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face charges of manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson by negligence, along with the municipality's head of public safety and a former fire safety inspector. Jessica Moretti is under a travel ban and must report to police daily, while Jacques Moretti is in custody. The bar had not undergone safety checks for five years prior to the incident.