Switzerland Reeling After Deadly Bar Fire, Sparklers Suspected

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Swiss investigators are working diligently to identify the victims and determine the exact cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 40 New Year's revelers at a packed bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana. The incident occurred early on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting urgent medical responses for those severely injured. Authorities have pointed to lit sparklers attached to champagne bottles as a potential trigger, which may have ignited foam on the ceiling, leading to the rapid spread of flames.

In the days following the tragedy, people have continued to gather near the scene of the disaster at Le Constellation bar, leaving behind flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages. A makeshift memorial has become a place of reflection, where many stand in stunned silence, grappling with the enormity of what has happened. Among the messages left behind, one reads: "Courage to all the victims' families, we're thinking of Stefan and hoping he's okay; a hero." Others include notes such as "We're thinking of you" and "May they rest in peace."

The tragedy has become the central topic of every conversation, filled with pain, sadness, and a sense of incomprehension. The disaster has deeply affected Switzerland, with families of the overwhelmingly young partygoers waiting anxiously for news about their loved ones. Most of the 119 people wounded in the fire remain in serious condition, according to reports.

Of those injured, 113 have been identified, according to Frederic Gisler, the regional police commander of the Wallis canton. He stated that officials are working "relentlessly" to complete the identification process. Many of the injured were foreign nationals, given Crans-Montana's popularity among international visitors. It is expected that non-Swiss citizens will also be among the deceased.

Among those bracing for the worst is Laetitia Brodard, who shared that the last text she received from her son, Arthur, was "Mother, Happy New Year, I love you." She expressed frustration, stating, "It's been 40 hours. Forty hours since our children have disappeared. So we should know by now," as she spoke to journalists near the memorial.

The exact number of people present at Le Constellation when the fire broke out remains unclear. According to the Crans-Montana website, the venue had a capacity of 300 people plus an additional 40 on its terrace. Two French managers of the bar have been questioned, with one, Jacques Moretti, claiming that all safety norms were followed. However, the chief prosecutor of the Wallis region, Beatrice Pilloud, confirmed that safety standards are part of the ongoing investigation.

Pilloud said the leading hypothesis is that "sparklers or Bengal candles attached to champagne bottles and lifted too close to the ceiling" caused the deadly blaze. A video showed the low wooden ceiling—covered with soundproofing foam—catching fire and flames spreading rapidly, while revellers continued to dance, unaware of the danger. When they finally realized, panic set in.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as people tried to break through the windows to escape, while others, covered in burns, poured out into the street. Nathan, who had been in the bar before the fire, saw burnt individuals streaming out of the site. "They were asking for help, crying out for help," he said, declining to give his last name. Edmond Cocquyt, a Belgian tourist, recounted seeing bodies "covered with a white sheet" and "young people, totally burnt, who were still alive ... screaming in pain."

• Identifying victims -
  Police chief Gisler reported that of the injured, 71 were Swiss, 14 were French, 11 were Italian, and four were from Serbia, along with victims from Bosnia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Swiss authorities warned it could take days to identify everyone who perished, leaving families and friends in agonizing uncertainty. Desperate appeals for information about missing loved ones have circulated online.

Several memorial masses for the victims are planned, including one on Saturday evening in Crans-Montana. A French tourist, who wished to remain anonymous, described the event as "very sad, deeply sad." He noted that the situation seemed familiar, pointing to initial reports suggesting the bar may not have met safety standards and that young people may not have recognized the risks. "This kind of tragedy has already happened elsewhere. If only this one could make young people, and not so young people, aware of the risks, of checking emergency exits."