The death toll from the devastating fire that tore through a Swiss Alpine bar during New Year celebrations has risen to 41, after a teenager critically injured in the blaze died in hospital, Swiss authorities confirmed.
The victim, an 18-year-old Swiss national, passed away on January 31 at a hospital in Zurich, nearly a month after the inferno engulfed the Le Constellation bar at the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. The announcement was made on Saturday by Beatrice Pilloud, public prosecutor for the canton of Valais, who said the tragedy now stands as one of the deadliest disasters in Switzerland’s modern history.
Alongside the fatalities, 115 people were injured, many of whom continue to receive treatment in hospitals across Switzerland and Europe. Authorities reported that as of this week, 37 patients remain hospitalized within Switzerland, while 44 others are being treated abroad in specialized burn units across four European countries. Several victims are still in intensive care, and the situation remains fluid as patients are transferred or readmitted during different phases of recovery.
Those who lost their lives range in age from 14 to 39, with the majority being teenagers. Only four victims were over the age of 24. Among the deceased are 23 Swiss nationals, including one French-Swiss dual citizen, and 18 foreign nationals, underscoring the international impact of the tragedy.
Investigators believe the fire ignited when partygoers lifted champagne bottles fitted with sparklers too close to sound-insulating foam lining the ceiling of the bar’s basement. Authorities are now examining whether the foam complied with safety regulations and whether the use of such sparklers or candles was permitted inside the venue. Officials also revealed that fire safety inspections had not been conducted since 2019, raising serious concerns over regulatory oversight.
Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the bar’s owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, a French couple, on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire through negligence. Jacques Moretti was initially placed in three months of pre-trial detention on January 12, but was released on bail on January 23, a decision that has sparked controversy, particularly in Italy, which lost several nationals in the blaze.
The investigation has since widened to include the current head of public safety in Crans-Montana and a former local fire safety officer, both now under criminal scrutiny.
In response to international concern, Swiss authorities have confirmed they will grant Italy’s Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office access to collected evidence, following diplomatic protests over the bail decision.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has left Switzerland grappling with profound questions about fire safety enforcement, venue accountability, and the human cost of regulatory failures.
