In a shocking admission, local authorities in Switzerland have confessed that a popular bar where a horrific New Year's Eve fire killed 40 people and injured 119 others had not undergone any mandatory safety inspections for over five years. The devastating blaze erupted at the crowded Le Constellation bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1.
Mayor's Admission of Failure and Regret
Addressing a press conference five days after the disaster, Mayor Nicolas Feraud made a grave confession. Periodic safety inspections were not conducted at the venue between 2020 and 2025. "We bitterly regret this," Feraud stated, adding, "We are profoundly sorry. We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done." The mayor explained that the sound-proofing foam used inside the bar was considered acceptable at the time of its installation.
However, prosecutors investigating the incident have a different theory for the rapid spread of the fire. They believe sparkling candles ignited the ceiling of the bar's basement, causing flames to engulf the space swiftly. In a direct response to the tragedy, the mayor has declared an immediate ban on the use of all sparkling candles inside venues within the municipality.
International Toll of Victims and Ongoing Suffering
The human cost of the fire is both immense and international. Authorities confirmed on Sunday that all 40 victims who lost their lives have been identified. The youngest victim was just 14 years old. The 119 injured represent a mosaic of nationalities, highlighting the global appeal of the Swiss ski resort.
The breakdown of the injured includes:
- 68 Swiss citizens
- 21 French nationals
- 10 Italians
- 4 Serbs
- 2 Poles
- 1 person each from Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the Republic of Congo
- 4 dual nationals
As of the latest reports, 83 people remain hospitalised. The severity of the burns sustained by many victims made the identification process exceptionally difficult, forcing authorities to rely on DNA samples provided by grieving families.
Criminal Probe and Heartbreaking Repatriations
Swiss prosecutors have not remained idle. The Valais region's chief prosecutor has announced that a criminal investigation has been opened targeting the bar's managers. They are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntarily causing a fire.
The grim process of sending victims home has begun. On Monday, Italian authorities oversaw the repatriation of the bodies of five victims from Sion airport. In a solemn ceremony, Swiss police pallbearers carried the coffins past a guard of honour formed by firefighters and soldiers to an awaiting Italian Air Force cargo plane. Mourners shared emotional embraces on the tarmac before the flight's departure, a poignant scene marking the end of a holiday celebration that turned into a nightmare.
The tragedy at Le Constellation bar has exposed a critical failure in local safety oversight, leaving a community and an international group of families to grapple with an unbearable loss. The focus now shifts to the ongoing criminal investigation and the long road to recovery for the survivors.
