Owner of Swiss Bar Where 40 Died Is Ordered to Jail as a Flight Risk

Following a fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, that killed 40 people on New Year's Eve, Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the bar, was ordered to pretrial detention for at least three months on Monday. He and his wife, Jessica Moretti, are under investigation for possible negligence related to the fire, which investigators believe was started by sparklers igniting the bar's foam ceiling. The court cited a risk of flight as the reason for detaining Mr. Moretti, while his wife was released after questioning. Lawyers for victims' relatives are also urging investigators to examine the role of town officials in the tragedy. The investigation is ongoing.

A co-owner of Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Jacques Moretti, will be detained for 90 days following a New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured 116. Moretti and his wife, Jessica, are under investigation for potential manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson by negligence. Prosecutors consider Jacques Moretti a flight risk. The fire is believed to have been ignited by sparklers on champagne bottles setting fire to the ceiling. Authorities have acknowledged the bar had not undergone safety inspections for five years, despite annual checks being required. The mayor of Crans-Montana has expressed regret for the lack of inspections and announced a ban on sparklers in local venues.

Families of victims of the deadly New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, are shocked that the venue had not been inspected for safety in five years, despite annual checks being mandatory. The fire, which killed 40 and injured 116, is believed to have been started by champagne bottles with sparklers igniting soundproofing foam. The bar's managers, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under criminal investigation for manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson by negligence. The mayor of Crans-Montana has expressed regret for the lack of inspections and announced a ban on sparklers in local venues. Lawyers representing the families are questioning the municipality's role and urging officials to take responsibility for the disaster.

Following a deadly New Year's Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, officials have identified all 116 injured individuals. The fire at Le Constellation bar killed 40 people aged 14-39. As of Monday, 83 injured people, including at least 12 nationalities, remained hospitalized, many with severe burns. A criminal investigation is underway, focusing on the bar's managers and the potential role of flammable acoustic foam on the ceiling. Preliminary findings suggest sparklers ignited the ceiling. Victims included Charlotte Niddam, 15, Arthur Brodard, 16, and junior golfer Emanuele Galeppini, 16.

Crans-Montana, a Swiss ski resort, is in mourning following a devastating New Year's Day fire at Le Constellation bar that killed at least 40 people and injured 119. The victims included many young adults and teenagers; 24 have been identified, including a 14-year-old girl. The community held a commemorative Mass on Sunday, with church bells ringing across the town. Residents are struggling to cope with the tragedy, described as one of Switzerland's worst disasters. One survivor, a 20-year-old man, is recovering from severe burns and grappling with the trauma.

Swiss police have identified 16 more victims of the deadly New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, bringing the total identified to 24. The fire, one of Switzerland's deadliest disasters, killed 40 people and injured 119. The newly identified victims include 10 Swiss nationals, two Italians, one person with Italian-Emirati citizenship, one Romanian, one French national, and one person from Turkiye. Among those identified are several teenagers, including a 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds. Authorities are continuing to work on identifying the remaining victims, while the local community grapples with the tragedy.

A fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Day killed at least 40 people. Experts suggest the fire was likely exacerbated by safety flaws, including flammable ceiling foam, a crowded basement, and a narrow staircase exit. The fire may have started when sparklers ignited the ceiling. Witnesses described a chaotic escape as the staircase became a bottleneck, though a second emergency exit was reported by officials. Police have opened an investigation into the bar's two managers for potential negligent homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence.

Swiss police have identified the first four victims of a New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a Swiss ski resort. The victims are two Swiss women, ages 21 and 16, and two Swiss men, ages 18 and 16, whose bodies have been returned to their families. The fire killed 40 people and injured 119 others. Authorities are continuing to work on identifying the remaining victims. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was likely caused by sparklers on champagne bottles igniting the ceiling. Many of the deceased and missing are teenagers, as the bar was popular among younger people.

A deadly fire at the Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on New Year's Day 2026 killed 40 people and critically injured dozens more. Swiss authorities believe the fire was likely caused by sparklers attached to Champagne bottles, which ignited the ceiling insulation. The basement bar, popular with young people, was crowded with revelers when the fire rapidly spread. Videos show people dancing as the fire started, with some attempting to extinguish the flames. The prosecutor general described the event as one of the deadliest fires in Swiss history, prompting a large-scale investigation.

A fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve has resulted in dozens of presumed deaths and approximately 100 injuries. The blaze broke out around 1:30 am local time as people celebrated the new year. Police have ruled out an attack as the cause, but the exact reason for the fire is still under investigation. Authorities stated that many victims are believed to be from other countries. Emergency services, including helicopters and ambulances, responded to the scene, and hospitals in the region are overwhelmed with burn victims.

A fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday during a New Year's celebration, resulting in dozens presumed dead and approximately 100 injured. Swiss police are investigating the cause of the fire and a subsequent explosion, but have ruled out terrorism. Emergency services responded with helicopters and ambulances, transporting the injured to hospitals, which quickly reached capacity. The area around the bar has been cordoned off and a no-fly zone established. Authorities have asked those concerned about relatives to contact them as the exact death toll remains unknown.