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LAST UPDATE | 2 Jan
SWISS AUTHORITIES HAVE confirmed that 40 people were killed in the fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps in the town of Crans-Montana, with 119 others injured.
The fire broke out at around 1.30am (12.30am Irish time) at the Le Constellation, a bar popular with young tourists, on Thursday.
In an update this afternoon, Valais Canton attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said an investigation opened today to determine the circumstances of the fire, with all possible explanations being explored.
Pilloud said it “would appear that the fire started from sparkler candles, otherwise known as flares, which were placed on top of champagne bottles”.
She said these flares were taken too close to the ceiling, which led to “what is known as a flashover incident where the fire spread very rapidly”.
Witness accounts reported by Swiss, French and Italian media had pointed to sparklers apparently mounted on champagne bottles and held up by restaurant staff as part of a regular “show” for patrons who made special orders to their tables.
Pilloud said videos have been obtained and analysed, and several people have been interviewed.
She also said that the French managers of the bar and people who escaped the fire have been interviewed, and a list of people who were present on the night is being used to help identify those killed and injured.
Valais Canton police chief Frederic Gisler said that of the 119 people who were injured, 113 have been formally identified. identification efforts are continuing for the six others.
Of the injured people identified, 71 are Swiss nations, 14 are French nations and 11 are Italian nationals. Four are from Serbian, one is Belgian, one is Polish, one is Portuguese, one is Bosnian and one is from Luxembourg.
Gisler said formal identification is ongoing for the 40 people who have died. “It is our priority. We want to identify the people who have lost their lives as quickly as possible. We have the necessary means and resources to do so,” he said.
He said standardised identification protocols ‘take time’, adding that they are cooperating with several countries to do this, including France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Congo, Philippines, Serbia, Turkey and Romania.
“These protocols are necessary in order to enable formal and definitive identification as quickly as possible.”
Mathias Reynard, the head of the regional government, said his thoughts were with the victims, the injured and the families who are going through an “unbearable wait” to hear about their loved ones.
This tragedy for Valais is also a tragedy for Switzerland and for the whole of Europe.
He said a number of the people injured are still “in a life-threatening condition”, while around 50 have been or will be transferred to specialised burns treatment centres in Europe.
Bystanders described scenes of panic and chaos as people tried to break the windows to escape and others, covered in burns, poured into the street.
Authorities began moving the bodies of victims to a funeral centre in a nearby city this morning.
“We’ve tried to reach our friends. We took loads of photos and posted them on Instagram, Facebook, all possible social networks to try to find them,” said 17-year-old Eleonore. “But there’s nothing. No response. Even the parents don’t know.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said yesterday that her department is not aware of any Irish citizens who have been impacted directly at this stage.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it stands ready to provide consular assistance. Any Irish citizen in need of consular assistance can contact the Irish embassy in Switzerland on +41(0) 313500380 or +353 (0) 14082000.
Le Constellation had a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.
More than 30 victims were taken to hospitals with specialist burns units in Zurich and Lausanne, and six were taken to Geneva, according to a Swiss news agency.
“We thought it was just a small fire, but when we got there, it was war,” Mathys, from neighbouring Chermignon-d’en-Bas, told AFP.
“That’s the only word I can use to describe it: the apocalypse.”
Nathan, who was in the bar before the blaze, saw burned people streaming out of the site. “They were asking for help, crying out for help,” he said.
Red and white caution tape, flowers and candles adorned the street where the tragedy occurred, while police shielded the site with white screens.
The EU said it has been in contact with Swiss authorities about providing medical assistance, while French President Emmanuel Macron said some of the injured were being cared for in French hospitals.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also offered medical care.
“We are ready, at Switzerland’s request, to provide specialised medical care to 14 injured in Polish hospitals,” Tusk wrote on X.
“Switzerland and the canton of Valais can count on Polish solidarity.”
With reporting from © AFP 2026
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