Lead: Police in Valais canton have confirmed that all 116 people injured in the New Year’s Eve blaze at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have now been identified, as the first foreign victims’ bodies were repatriated on Monday, 5 January 2026. The fire, which killed 40 people—mostly young partygoers—is believed to have begun in the bar’s basement after sparklers attached to champagne bottles came too close to a foam‑lined ceiling. Authorities revised the injured count down from 119 after finding three patients had been wrongly recorded as fire casualties. Investigators and foreign governments are coordinating repatriations while a criminal inquiry proceeds.
Key takeaways
- 116 injured identified: police said all 116 people treated for injuries in the Crans‑Montana blaze have been identified following a correction from an initial 119 figure.
- 40 fatalities: the death toll stands at 40; victims ranged from 14 to 39 years old, the average age 19, and 20 were minors.
- Nationalities of injured: 68 Swiss, 21 French, 10 Italian, 4 Serbian, 4 dual nationals, 2 Polish and one person each from seven other countries; 83 people remain hospitalised with severe burns.
- Cause under investigation: authorities say the fire likely started in the basement after indoor sparklers (Bengal fountains) were held near a ceiling reportedly clad with soundproofing foam.
- Legal scrutiny: the bar owners, French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under criminal investigation on suspicion including homicide by negligence but have not been detained.
- Repatriation: five of six Italian victims were flown from Sion airport to Italy on Monday; one Italian national resident in Switzerland will be buried locally.
- Official response: the municipality of Crans‑Montana has joined the criminal proceedings as a civil party and the French president is expected to attend a memorial ceremony on Friday.
Background
The blaze tore through Le Constellation during a crowded New Year’s Eve party in the popular Valais ski resort of Crans‑Montana, drawing attendees from across Europe. Indoor celebrations in resort venues frequently mix local regulation, seasonal inspections and ad hoc private events; the presence of foreign guests is common and can complicate post‑incident identification and consular coordination. Soundproofing materials and ad hoc pyrotechnics have featured in previous nightclub and bar fires worldwide, prompting safety debates about permitted materials and the use of indoor sparklers.
Swiss cantons regulate building safety, licensing and inspections, but enforcement is distributed across municipal and cantonal agencies; local officials said Le Constellation had been inspected three times in ten years and no defects were recorded. That record is now under closer scrutiny as investigators review inspection reports, material certifications and the bar’s event operations. International consular teams from Italy, France and other countries moved quickly to assist families and repatriate remains.
Main event
According to police, the fire is believed to have started in the bar’s basement when sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling. Social media images shared after the incident suggested the ceiling area was lined with soundproofing foam; investigators are examining whether that material contributed to fire spread and smoke production. Emergency services responded overnight on 31 December into 1 January; dozens were treated at the scene and many more were taken to hospitals across the region.
The victims who died were aged between 14 and 39; 21 were Swiss, nine French (including two with dual nationality), six Italian and one each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. Police and hospital officials confirmed 83 patients remain hospitalised with severe burns or smoke inhalation injuries; identification teams completed formal identification for all injured by Monday, 5 January 2026. The initial report of 119 wounded was adjusted after investigators determined three patients admitted to A&E on Thursday morning had been incorrectly linked to the blaze.
Repatriation operations took place at Sion airport where Swiss police officers carried coffins onto a transport plane bound for Milan and Rome. Italian authorities named several victims being returned—Achille Barosi, Chiara Costanzo, Giovanni Tamburi, Emanuele Galeppini and Riccardo Minghetti—while another Italian national, Sofia Prosperi, lived in Switzerland and will be buried there. Italian officials said they will follow the criminal inquiry closely and seek clarity on the circumstances that allowed the blaze to occur.
Analysis & implications
Legally, investigators face questions about whether owners or operators met safety obligations and whether negligence charges, including homicide by negligence, are supported by evidence. Proving criminal negligence in a fire of this scale will require demonstrating that known risks were ignored or that safety checks were inadequate. The owners say inspections were conducted and that operations complied with rules; prosecutors will review inspection certificates, maintenance records and witness testimony.
Beyond legal liability, the incident is likely to prompt regulatory review at cantonal and national levels, especially concerning permitted interior materials and controls on indoor pyrotechnics. Resorts that host large, youth‑oriented events may face tighter licensing requirements, more frequent inspections and clearer rules on items such as Bengal fountains. Insurance, venue liability and operator training will also be scrutinised as stakeholders assess financial and reputational fallout.
Diplomatically, rapid consular responses and public statements reflect both the cross‑border nature of the casualties and domestic political pressures. Italian and French officials are actively involved in repatriation and investigations; political figures have already weighed in publicly, increasing pressure on Swiss investigators to deliver timely answers. The tragedy may affect winter tourism confidence in the short term, prompting operators to communicate safety measures more visibly to visitors.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 40 |
| Injured (identified) | 116 |
| Hospitalised with severe burns | 83 |
| Age range of deceased | 14–39 (average 19; 20 minors) |
| Nationalities among injured (major counts) | 68 Swiss, 21 French, 10 Italian, 4 Serbian, 4 dual nationals |
This table summarises the confirmed figures released by Valais police and hospital sources to date. Numbers may change slightly as remaining patients are discharged or as investigations clarify initial recordings; the police statement on 5 January 2026 provided the updated injured total and nationality breakdowns.
Reactions & quotes
Italian officials and families publicly called for a full accounting of the circumstances that allowed the fire to spread so rapidly, while Swiss authorities pledged cooperation with foreign governments and an exhaustive inquiry.
“We have pledged to do everything we can, in conjunction with Swiss authorities. We will follow the investigation closely so the truth is known as quickly as possible and justice served.”
Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Italian ambassador to Switzerland (official statement)
Domestic political figures also weighed in on safety failures and accountability, increasing public scrutiny.
“There was a failure to ensure the basement was safe; in civilised Switzerland, the prison gates will have to open for quite a few people.”
Matteo Salvini, Italy deputy prime minister (social media)
Bar owners have defended their compliance record while prosecutors examine whether inspections and operational practice were adequate.
“Le Constellation had been checked three times in 10 years and everything had been done according to the rules.”
Jacques Moretti, co‑owner of Le Constellation (public comment)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the sparklers directly ignited the ceiling foam rather than a nearby combustible item is still under forensic examination.
- Precise compliance history for every past inspection report has not been publicly released and remains subject to verification.
- Reports of systemic age‑check failures at the bar have been raised in press coverage but are not yet corroborated by investigators in public statements.
Bottom line
The Crans‑Montana fire has left 40 dead and 116 injured—numbers that crystallise the human cost of a single event where combustible materials and indoor pyrotechnics appear to have combined with a crowded, youth‑oriented setting. Identification and repatriation efforts are underway while prosecutors examine whether negligence or regulatory lapses contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
Expect investigators to publish forensic findings on ignition sources and material flammability in coming weeks; those results will determine whether criminal charges progress and whether cantonal or national rule changes follow. For now, the incident is a focal point for cross‑border consular coordination, public safety reviews in resort venues and a wider debate on indoor pyrotechnics and material standards.
Sources
- The Guardian — news media report synthesising police statements and wire agency reporting.
- Reuters — international news agency (wire reporting contributed to coverage).
- Agence France‑Presse (AFP) — international news agency (contributed reporting).