A night of high-end revelry at a luxury Swiss ski resort turned into one of the nation’s deadliest disasters after sparklers on champagne bottles ignited a basement bar, claiming dozens of young lives.
The death toll from a devastating fire at the upscale Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has risen to 47, with over 115 others injured, many critically. Swiss investigators confirmed Saturday (January 3, 2026) that the blaze was likely triggered by “fountain candles” or “Bengal lights” attached to champagne bottles during a New Year’s Eve celebration. The fire, which erupted just 90 minutes into the New Year, has plunged the Alpine nation into five days of official mourning.
The ‘Champagne Show’ Gone Wrong
Witnesses describe a scene of rapid escalation inside the packed basement venue. According to preliminary reports from Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud, the disaster began when waitstaff, performing a traditional “bottle show,” carried magnums of champagne adorned with lit sparklers through the crowd.
- The Ignition: Footage from the scene shows sparks from the “Bengal lights” brushing against the low ceiling, which was covered in acoustic foam and wood.
- The Conflagration: Witnesses say the ceiling caught fire “within seconds.” A phenomenon called a flashover the near-simultaneous ignition of combustible gases in an enclosed space caused the fire to engulf the entire nightclub in about 10 seconds.
- The Escape: With the only exit being a narrow staircase, panicked partygoers were forced to smash windows with chairs to get out. “People were running through the flames… it was absolute panic,” one survivor told French broadcaster BFMTV.
The tragedy hit young people especially hard, as Le Constellation was known as a more affordable nightlife option for the 16–25 age group in the luxury resort.
- Nationalities: Of the 119 injured, 71 are Swiss, 14 French, and 11 Italian. Other victims include people from Serbia, Belgium, Poland, and Luxembourg.
- Notable Casualties: The first victim to be identified was Emanuele Galeppini (16), a rising star in the Italian Golf Federation. Several other teenagers remain missing as DNA identification continues.
“What was meant to be a moment of joy turned, on the first day of the year, into mourning that touches the entire country and far beyond,” Swiss President Guy Parmelin said, who has ordered flags at the Federal Palace to fly at half-staff.
“Everything leads us to believe that the fire was started from sparkling candles… moved too close to the ceiling,” Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud confirmed.
The investigation is now focusing on the building’s safety compliance. Authorities are examining whether the insulation foam used in the ceiling met Swiss fire-retardant regulations. Experts warn the death toll may still rise, as nearly 80 of the injured remain in critical condition in specialist burn units across Switzerland, France, and Germany. This disaster is already being compared to the 2003 Station Nightclub fire, prompting calls for a nationwide ban on indoor pyrotechnics in Switzerland.
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