Name: Deadly Swiss Alps bar fire likely started by sparklers
Uploaded: 2026-01-02T23:59:11.783Z
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Description: The blaze at Le Constellation, killing at least 40 people and injuring about 115 others, many seriously, was likely started by sparklers in champagne bottles, authorities said on Friday afternoon, as identification of those killed and injured continued.

The blaze at Le Constellation, killing at least 40 people and injuring about 115 others, many seriously, was likely started by sparklers in champagne bottles, authorities said on Friday afternoon, as identification of those killed and injured continued.

Crans-Montana

A fire broke out at a bar in the Swiss Alpine town of Crans-Montana during New Year's Eve celebrations, resulting in at least 40 deaths and injuring approximately 115 people. Authorities have stated that identifying all victims may take several days or weeks, and many of the injured were transported to hospitals in Switzerland and neighboring countries.

Witnesses described a scene where a bartender lifted a colleague holding a lit candle, after which flames quickly spread and the wooden ceiling collapsed. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials have ruled out the possibility of an attack.

Deadly Swiss Alps bar fire likely started by sparklers

Investigators continued efforts on Friday to identify victims of a deadly fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alpstown of Kranz Montana during a New Year's Eve celebration. It is not yet clear what set off the blaze, which killed at least 40 people and injured about 115 others, many seriously. Authorities warned it could still take days or even weeks to identify everyone who perished. Emanuele Gallepini, a 16-year-old Italian golfer, was named by the Italian Golf Federation as the first of several possible victims from Italy to be identified. Many of the injured were transported to hospitals across Switzerland and neighbouring countries, including Italy. Witnesses have told reporters that they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle, after which flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling. Some also said official escape routes did not have enough room to allow everyone to evacuate in time. While officials said it was too early to determine the fire's cause, investigators have already ruled out the possibility of an attack.

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Dozens of people have been killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after a fire tore through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Swiss officials said.

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