Authorities have identified all 40 victims who perished in the New Year’s fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, with half of them under the age of 18. The tragic blaze has left the alpine ski resort and the nation in mourning.
The fatalities, confirmed on Sunday, included 21 Swiss nationals, nine French nationals (including one Franco-Swiss and one triple national of France, Israel, and Britain), six Italians (including one Italian-Emirati), as well as citizens from Belgium, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey. Victims’ ages ranged from 14 to 39.
A somber mass was held at a small chapel just 300 meters from the destroyed bar, attended by hundreds of mourners braving temperatures as low as -9°C. Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey described the suffering as “unbearable for so many families,” while Pastor Gilles Cavin highlighted that many victims were apprentices, high school, or university students.
Following the service, attendees formed a silent procession toward the makeshift memorial at Le Constellation, applauding emergency responders as they passed. Rescuers were visibly moved by the gesture, a testament to the community’s gratitude for their tireless efforts.
Authorities have pointed to sparklers attached to champagne bottles as the likely cause, which ignited the bar’s soundproofing foam, resulting in a rapidly spreading fire. Witnesses described intense heat and thick smoke that quickly trapped partygoers in the basement.
The French owners of the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are facing criminal investigations for manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Investigators are continuing to determine additional liabilities and the exact circumstances surrounding the fire.
Video footage from the incident shows patrons attempting to escape by breaking windows, underscoring the fire’s sudden and catastrophic impact.
Switzerland has declared a national day of mourning on January 9, during which all church bells will toll at 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) and a nationwide moment of silence will be observed. Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences in a speech at St Peter’s Square, offering prayers for the victims, the injured, and their families.
