A tragic fire at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve claimed 40 lives and left 116 people injured, officials have confirmed. The victims, ranging in age from 14 to 39 years old, were predominantly young, with more than half, including 26 individuals, aged 18 or under. The blaze, which tore through the busy venue at approximately 1:30 AM on January 1, is believed to have been caused by sparklers on champagne bottles being waved too close to the ceiling by wait staff. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire rapidly developed into a 'flashover,' igniting much of the bar in seconds and making escape nearly impossible.

Swiss police confirmed that all 40 fatalities have been identified, some through DNA analysis due to severe burns. Among the injured, 83 remained hospitalized, and at least 12 nationalities were represented. The deceased included 10 Swiss males aged 16 to 31, 11 Swiss females aged 14 to 24, and one 24-year-old woman with dual Swiss-French nationality. Six Italian nationals were identified: three 16-year-old boys and two girls aged 15 and 16, along with a 16-year-old boy holding dual Italian-UAE nationality. Five French males aged 14 to 39 and two French women aged 33 and 26 also perished. Other victims included a 15-year-old girl with triple British-French-Israeli nationality, an 18-year-old Romanian boy, a Belgian 17-year-old girl, a Portuguese 22-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old Turkish boy.

A criminal investigation has been launched into the bar's French managers, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are suspected of manslaughter, bodily harm, and causing a fire through negligence. Investigators are scrutinizing whether the acoustic foam on the venue's ceiling complied with regulations and contributed to the fire's rapid spread. Former staff members have come forward with claims of substandard safety measures, alleging that fire extinguishers were kept under lock and key and that the emergency exit was routinely locked, which would impede escape in a crisis. One former employee, Maxime, stated that unlike other workplaces, fire extinguishers were in a locked room, and another, Sarah, mentioned needing a key for the emergency exit and being ordered not to unlock it except for access to an upstairs apartment. Waitresses were also reportedly encouraged to use sparklers in champagne bottles for customer entertainment.

Details have emerged about several of the young victims, highlighting the personal tragedy behind the statistics. Benjamin Johnson, an 18-year-old boxer, was hailed as a hero by the Swiss Boxing Federation for reportedly dying while saving a friend. Achille Barosi, 16, from Milan, tragically returned to the bar for his phone and jacket just as the fire erupted. Greek-Swiss citizen Alice Kallergis, 15, was on her first night out, and her brother Romain recounted seeing hundreds on the street and smoke from the building after they parted ways. Giovanni Tamburi, 16, from Bologna, was on holiday with his father and never made it home after dinner with friends. Émilie Pralong, 22, studying to become a teacher, was described by her grandfather as 'full of life and smiling.' Tristan Pidoux, 17, a Swiss national, was initially reported missing before his family's worst fears were confirmed. Chiara Costanzo, 16, from Milan, went to the bar 'by chance,' and her heartbroken father described his immense pain. Sofia Prosperi, 15, an Italo-Swiss national attending the International School of Como, was identified by friends from party images. Riccardo Minghetti, 16, from Rome, was at the bar with his sister Matilde, who survived with minor hand injuries after trying to find him. Arthur Brodard, 16, was confirmed dead by his mother Laetitia in an emotional video message. Emanuele Galeppini, 17, a promising Italian golfer, was remembered for his passion and values by the Italian Golf Federation. Charlotte Niddam, 15, who held British, Israeli, and French citizenship and worked as a babysitter at the resort, had her death confirmed by her family on social media.

The incident has sparked widespread grief and calls for justice. Thousands joined a silent march through Crans-Montana to remember the victims. Italy, which lost six citizens, has demanded accountability, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini stating that 'in civilized Switzerland, the prison gates will have to open for quite a few people.' Stéphane Ganzer, Valais region's top security official, acknowledged that 'something didn't work' and that 'someone made a mistake.' The bar owners have stated their full cooperation with authorities, though local laws reportedly stipulate annual inspections for public buildings, and the bar had been inspected 'three times in 10 years.' Residents like Aika Chappaz emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.