On New Year’s Eve 2025, the picturesque Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana was buzzing with celebration. Le Constellation, a beloved local bar and nightclub known as an “institution” among residents, was packed with revelers welcoming 2026. The venue, capable of holding up to 300 people indoors plus 40 on the terrace, drew a young crowd, including many teenagers, as the legal drinking age in Switzerland is 16 for certain beverages.

What began as a night of joy turned into one of Switzerland’s worst disasters in recent history. Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026, a fire erupted in the basement level, rapidly engulfing the building. By the time emergency services arrived—police at 1:32 a.m., followed immediately by firefighters—the blaze had already claimed lives. In the end, 40 people perished, and 116 others were injured, many with severe burns requiring months or even lifelong rehabilitation.

Preliminary investigations point to a tragic but preventable spark: sparklers attached to champagne bottles. Witnesses described staff carrying bottles topped with lit sparklers—common in celebrations to create a festive spectacle—held aloft or even lifted on shoulders. These were brought too close to the ceiling, igniting flammable soundproofing foam. Videos captured by partygoers show flames quickly spreading across the ceiling, turning the venue into an inferno within seconds.

One survivor recounted the horror: “People started recording with their cell phones until someone shouted, ‘This place is on fire, we have to get out fast!’ Then came the screams… and chaos.” Another, 17-year-old Ebenezer Mehari, had stepped outside for fresh air moments before the fire broke out. As he prepared to re-enter, he heard a “big boom” and saw “hell” erupt inside. Many of his friends remained trapped.

The rapid spread was exacerbated by the bar’s design and materials. The sound-dampening foam on the ceiling, installed during a 2015 remodel, fueled the flames intensely. Survivors described a crush at narrow exits and stairways, with people trampling one another in panic. Some escaped by breaking windows or forcing doors, but others were overcome by smoke or trapped in the basement.

Compounding the tragedy were lapses in safety oversight. Officials revealed that Le Constellation had not undergone a fire safety inspection since 2019—five years prior. Although the venue’s size did not legally require a fire alarm system, experts and locals have questioned whether the flammable materials complied with regulations. In response, the mayor of Crans-Montana immediately banned sparklers in local venues, calling it a precautionary measure.

The victims were predominantly young: 26 of the 40 deceased were teenagers, with the youngest aged 14—a Swiss national and a French citizen. Among the dead were 21 Swiss nationals, nine French (including dual nationals), six Italians, and one each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey. A British teenager and an Italian junior golfer were also confirmed among the fatalities. Identification took days due to severe burns, but by January 5, all victims and injured had been accounted for.

Survivors’ stories paint a picture of sheer terror. One teenager from Paris, Axel Clavier, escaped by smashing a window with a table but lost a friend. Others spoke of clothes melting onto skin and the overwhelming smoke. A local priest and community members held vigils, with hundreds marching in silence on January 4 to honor the dead. Makeshift memorials of flowers, candles, and messages sprang up outside the cordoned-off site.

Swiss authorities swiftly launched a criminal investigation into the bar’s owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, a French couple who acquired the venue in 2015. They face charges of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire through negligence. Reports of Jacques Moretti’s past convictions in France for fraud and other offenses have added scrutiny. Prosecutors are examining escape routes, fire extinguishers, and whether the foam materials were approved.

The disaster has overwhelmed local medical facilities, with burn victims transferred across Switzerland and abroad. Doctors described the influx as unprecedented, noting that no single European country could handle such a volume alone. Switzerland declared a period of national mourning, reflecting the profound impact on the tight-knit community.

This tragedy echoes historical nightclub fires, such as the 2003 Station fire in the United States, where pyrotechnics ignited foam and caused over 100 deaths. Experts emphasize that rapid flame spread in enclosed spaces with flammable acoustics is a known risk, yet often overlooked in favor of ambiance.

As Crans-Montana grieves, questions linger about prevention. Why no recent inspections? Were sparklers’ dangers underestimated? Could mandatory alarms or sprinklers have saved lives? The investigation continues, but for the families of the 40 lost souls—many just beginning their lives—the pain is irreversible.

In the words of one official, “Such a huge accident means something didn’t work.” The Alps’ serene beauty now bears a scar, a stark reminder that celebration can turn to catastrophe in moments. The community vows to remember the victims, ensuring their stories prompt change to prevent future heartbreak.