In brief
A fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has resulted in the deaths of 40 individuals and injured 119. Authorities suspect the flames originated from sparklers placed on champagne bottles that were moved too close to the ceiling. Investigations are examining fire safety measures, bar capacity, and potential prosecutions. Many injured individuals remain in critical condition, with ongoing efforts for victim identification and support for affected families.
A fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort appears to have been caused by sparklers placed on bottles of champagne that came too close to the ceiling, authorities said. Forty people died after the blaze in the early hours of New Year's Day in Crans-Montana, while 119 were injured.Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud told a news conference on Friday the investigation would focus on the materials used on the site, the bar's fire safety measures, its capacity and the number of people inside at the time of the fire.The investigation will explore whether prosecutions will be necessary. If that is the case, and if those people are still alive, there will be a case opened against them, she said.Everything leads us to think that the fire started from sparkling candles - or sparklers - which were put on bottles of champagne [that were] moved too close to the ceiling. From that, a blaze began very quickly, Ms Pilloud told the conference.Authorities are still working on the formal identification of the 40 people killed in the fire, with police commander Frédéric Gisler saying that is our priority. Many of those injured in the fire remain in a critical condition, authorities said.Among those injured were 19-year-old French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos, according to a statement released by his football club, FC Mertz. Dos Santos was severely burned in the fire, the club said, and has been airlifted to Germany for treatment.Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, said around 50 injured people have been transferred or will be transferred soon to European countries in specialised centres for severe burns.On Friday, groups of tearful families and teenagers gathered near the police cordon around the bar. Some left bunches of flowers and candles, while others placed messages at a makeshift shrine. White tents covered the entrances and exits of the site.
