CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND—It was intended to be the ultimate New Year’s Eve “show”—a parade of premium champagne bottles, held aloft by staff and adorned with shimmering, hissing sparklers. But in the crowded basement of Le Constellation, a premier bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, that moment of vanity transformed into one of the deadliest tragedies in Swiss history.
Authorities confirmed on Friday that 40 people were killed and 119 injured in the blaze that tore through the venue at approximately 1:30 AM on New Year’s Day. As forensic teams sift through the charred remains of the upscale bar, investigators have zeroed in on the “sparkling candles” as the primary catalyst for the disaster.
‘Seconds from Disaster’
The Valais Canton Attorney General, Béatrice Pilloud, told a packed press conference in Sion that evidence from social media footage and witness testimony points to a single, fatal mistake.
- The Ignition: Video recovered from survivors’ phones reportedly shows a female bartender, perched on a colleague’s shoulders, waving bottles of champagne topped with lit sparklers.
- The Ceiling: The sparks, which can reach temperatures of over 1,000C (1,832F), came into direct contact with the low basement ceiling.
- The Flashover: Within seconds, the ceiling—clad in what investigators believe was highly flammable acoustic foam and wood—ignited. “From there, a rapid, very rapid and widespread conflagration ensued,” Pilloud stated.
A Death Trap of Foam and Fear
The intensity of the fire was exacerbated by the basement’s architecture and the materials used in its recent renovations. Witnesses described a scene of “total horror” as the fire triggered a flashover, releasing a wall of combustible gases that incinerated everything in its path.
- The Single Exit: Survivors recounted a desperate crush as hundreds of revelers—mostly teenagers and young adults in their 20s—scrambled toward a single, narrow staircase.
- The Heroic Escape: 16-year-old Axel Clavier, a visitor from Paris, told reporters he escaped by smashing a plexiglass window with a table. Others were seen leaping through windows as their clothes “melted onto their skin.”
- The Soundproofing: A major focus of the probe is the polyurethane foam used for soundproofing. Investigators are checking if the material met Swiss fire codes or if it acted as an accelerant.
National Mourning and Legal Reckoning
As the town of Crans-Montana prepares for a day of national mourning on January 9, the legal consequences for the bar’s management are beginning to loom. The two French managers of Le Constellation have already been interviewed by police.
Attorney General Pilloud warned that if criminal liability is found—including violations of capacity limits or the unauthorized use of pyrotechnics—charges of negligent homicide and negligent arson will be filed. “Nothing can be told to the families until we are 100% sure,” added Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais government, noting that DNA and dental records are currently being used to identify bodies burned beyond recognition.
A Warning to the Nightlife Industry
The tragedy has sparked an immediate debate over the safety of “bottle service” pyrotechnics, a staple of high-end nightclubs worldwide. Critics argue that the practice of using “Bengal candles” in confined spaces with low ceilings is a disaster waiting to happen.
For now, the upscale streets of Crans-Montana are quiet, save for the flickering candles and floral tributes left outside the blackened husk of Le Constellation. A night that began with the pop of corks and the hiss of sparklers has ended in a silence that will haunt the Alps for generations.