Switzerland - 40 dead and 116 injured in fire in bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss ski resort, 1 January 2026

[mickey2942]

They appear to be lenient with sentencing.

Regarding negligent homicide:

Homicide through negligence occurs when a person's unintentional behaviour causes the death of another person due to a negligent act or due to the person having neglected to act that a reasonable person could have expected of him. It is a misdemeanour and punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine.

From Wikipedia.

That is absolutely unbelievable, given the horrific loss of life. And possible permanent disabilities for the other victims. Why bother to have an emergency exit? No matter what, we will just pay the insignificant fine or a few days/years in jail. Risk cost analysis.

 

[Charlot123]

BTW, if you look for a Facebook, “Old Constellation” (local business), it has tons of photos capturing the remodeling and opening of the new bar, since 2015.

@Dotta , I think that the pipes you were asking about existed for a long time, from the old business, and were not changed.

It also shows the foam on the ceiling. I think it was supposed to look “modern”.

Doesn’t look good, but interesting to trace the remodeling process.

Besides the tragedy, cases like this should be learning for us all. I am thinking of the foam used in cushions. Does furniture have any “flammable” classification, especially new modern plastic one?

We all live in this cr@@py materials, I think the world has to increase awareness.

 

[Dotta]

BTW, if you look for a Facebook, “Old Constellation” (local business), it has tons of photos capturing the remodeling and opening of the new bar, since 2015.

@Dotta , I think that the pipes you were asking about existed for a long time, from the old business, and were not changed.

It also shows the foam on the ceiling. I think it was supposed to look “modern”.

Doesn’t look good, but interesting to trace the remodeling process.

Besides the tragedy, cases like this should be learning for us all. I am thinking of the foam used in cushions. Does furniture have any “flammable” classification, especially new modern plastic one?

We all live in this cr@@py materials, I think the world has to increase awareness.

Someone else asked about them.
Not me.
The big pipes always seemed to me either ventilation or AC.
The thin ones - water.

JMO

 

[Chimera]

Brit schoolgirl, 15, is confirmed to be among victims of Swiss fire

Police announced on Sunday evening that the teenager, who also had French and Israeli nationality, had been identified.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The youngest victims were two 14-year-olds - a French boy and a Swiss girl.

Twenty-six of the fatalities were aged 14 to 18. The oldest victim was a 39-year-old French man.

Two fourteen year olds.
Just kids.
My utmost condolences to the grieving families.

I absolutely think the owners should face charges. at least for negligence if not manslaughter.
Wasn't it stated earlier here, that it was overcrowded as well ?
Imo.

 

[LadyL]

There was a witness who said this exit door was añways closed to prevent people from leaving without paying

they should have an emergency bar on the door handle that people can push to activate the door and an alarm - how can anyone call a door an emergency exit if it's locked and people are unable to exit? it defies belief

 

[mickey2942]

It is ironic, I looked up the "bottle sparklers" out of interest in this case, and now get constant advertising feed for the website, that advertises using these at weddings, bars, events. "To add excitement".

I wonder, after this horrifying incident, if anyone will even use these again? Probably. People never learn.

 

[mickey2942]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/switzerland-new-years-eve-party-fire-9.7032375

Parents of missing teens are giving their DNA, because victims in the hospital are unrecognizable due to burn injuries, so they don't know if their children are dead or alive until the DNA tests get sorted out.

That is the worst.

 

[airportwoman]

There was a witness who said this exit door was añways closed to prevent people from leaving without paying

Some places have also been known to do that, so people won't let their friends in for free via the exit doors.

 

[airportwoman]

maybe not very surprising with what we already know.. but i saw a witness in a video say this bar was popular with younger teens because they were known for not checking IDs for alcohol

Every town has at least one of those. BTDT, and I'm glad I never paid the ultimate price for that.

 

[planet]

1p

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/switzerland-new-years-eve-party-fire-9.7032375

Parents of missing teens are giving their DNA, because victims in the hospital are unrecognizable due to burn injuries, so they don't know if their children are dead or alive until the DNA tests get sorted out.

That is the worst.

I was worried it would come to this. It sounded from news reports that family members had no idea which hospitals their children were taken to, and of course, staff at those hospitals have no way means to identify them. Many will be in induced comas or intubated, and unable to speak as a result. They would have lost their ID or had all their clothes burned off in the fire and panic. I have assumed that, except for those children who died and have been identified, the remaining parents have had no way to know if their children are hospitalized and in which ones (or which countries), or dead. In effect, their children are displaced.

It is a situation with multiple sources of anguish for the parents: they don't know where their children are, they don't know if they're alive, they don't know what condition they're in or how severely burnt, they have no idea their prognosis, and they can't be with them to see them or offer a modicum of comfort.

 

[airportwoman]

1p

I was worried it would come to this. It sounded from news reports that family members had no idea which hospitals their children were taken to, and of course, staff at those hospitals have no way means to identify them. Many will be in induced comas or intubated, and unable to speak as a result. They would have lost their ID or had all their clothes burned off in the fire and panic. I have assumed that, except for those children who died and have been identified, the remaining parents have had no way to know if their children are hospitalized and in which ones (or which countries), or dead. In effect, their children are displaced.

It is a situation with multiple sources of anguish for the parents: they don't know where their children are, they don't know if they're alive, they don't know what condition they're in or how severely burnt, they have no idea their prognosis, and they can't be with them to see them or offer a modicum of comfort.

Couldn't they use dental records to identify these people?

 

[iamshadow21]

Couldn't they use dental records to identify these people?

That's going to be a lot more risky for the patient than a simple swab for DNA.

Dentals can, of course, be used to help identify the deceased, but even DNA might be quicker these days.

MOO

 

[MelmothTheLost]

It is ironic, I looked up the "bottle sparklers" out of interest in this case, and now get constant advertising feed for the website, that advertises using these at weddings, bars, events. "To add excitement".

I wonder, after this horrifying incident, if anyone will even use these again? Probably. People never learn.

It may lead to at least some venues banning them indoors. These "sparklers" are effectively a handheld blow torch which burns for up to 4 minutes. Having them waved around by drunks, or even just excited people, in a crowded venue, whether at a nightclub or a wedding, seems bloody stupid and the classic accident waiting to happen.

But you're certainly right about people not learning. Even worse are the ones who, when the dangers or selfishness of doing something are explained to them, shout "I don't care", stamp their feet and do it anyway.

 

[iamshadow21]

It may lead to at least some venues banning them indoors. These "sparklers" are effectively a handheld blow torch which burns for up to 4 minutes. Having them waved around by drunks, or even just excited people, in a crowded venue, whether at a nightclub or a wedding, seems bloody stupid and the classic accident waiting to happen.

But you're certainly right about people not learning. Even worse are the ones who, when the dangers or selfishness of doing something are explained to them, shout "I don't care", stamp their feet and do it anyway.

They're certainly more high powered than what I would call a sparkler. Those were just a thin stick of metal coated in combustible powder that burned brightly but small, and burnt out in about thirty seconds. It certainly didn't shoot flame out inches for minutes and minutes.

MOO

 

[Charlot123]

More news about the "Constellation" bar owner Jacques Moretti who had a criminal past in France

Owner of Swiss nightclub where deadly fire broke out was ‘known pimp’ who did time for fraud, kidnapping

One of the owners of the Swiss ski bar where 40 New Year's Eve revelers were killed in a horrifying fire had an extensive criminal history dating back more than 20 years and even served time in prison, according to European media reports.

www.aol.com

 

[Charlot123]

Brit schoolgirl, 15, is confirmed to be among victims of Swiss fire

Police announced on Sunday evening that the teenager, who also had French and Israeli nationality, had been identified.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The youngest victims were two 14-year-olds - a French boy and a Swiss girl.

Twenty-six of the fatalities were aged 14 to 18. The oldest victim was a 39-year-old French man.

Two fourteen year olds.
Just kids.
My utmost condolences to the grieving families.

I absolutely think the owners should face charges. at least for negligence if not manslaughter.
Wasn't it stated earlier here, that it was overcrowded as well ?
Imo.

Yes. If registered as "a lounge" it maximum capacity should have been 50 people. Eyewitness state that on the fateful night, it has over 200 patrons.

 

[Dotta]

More news about the "Constellation" bar owner Jacques Moretti who had a criminal past in France

Owner of Swiss nightclub where deadly fire broke out was ‘known pimp’ who did time for fraud, kidnapping

One of the owners of the Swiss ski bar where 40 New Year's Eve revelers were killed in a horrifying fire had an extensive criminal history dating back more than 20 years and even served time in prison, according to European media reports.

www.aol.com

Regardless of future sentence
this guy is finished in "hospitality"/tourism business IMO.

Procedures in some countries may be lax or not properly executed
but the moment tragedy happens due to negligence
the owner becomes bad news, total failure for the Industry.
They cut such a person off, like a bad omen.

JMO

 

[Dotta]

1p

I was worried it would come to this. It sounded from news reports that family members had no idea which hospitals their children were taken to, and of course, staff at those hospitals have no way means to identify them. Many will be in induced comas or intubated, and unable to speak as a result. They would have lost their ID or had all their clothes burned off in the fire and panic. I have assumed that, except for those children who died and have been identified, the remaining parents have had no way to know if their children are hospitalized and in which ones (or which countries), or dead. In effect, their children are displaced.

It is a situation with multiple sources of anguish for the parents: they don't know where their children are, they don't know if they're alive, they don't know what condition they're in or how severely burnt, they have no idea their prognosis, and they can't be with them to see them or offer a modicum of comfort.

This is horrifying

I was searching for info about my compatriot
as it was reported that 1 man from Poland was injured.

At least he was identified
as Polish MSM reports that the man is hospitalized in Switzerland
and is under the care of his family.

 

[detective.moon]

The last sixteen deceased of the fire in Crans-Montana have been identified. This was reported by the police in the Swiss canton of Valais to the French-language broadcaster RTS.

This means that the identities of all forty deceased are now known. Their families have been informed, and the bodies will be transferred to them.

also: friday the 9th will be a national day of mourning, with a minute of silence at two in the afternoon and church bells ringing throughout the country

Alle 40 dodelijke slachtoffers brand Crans-Montana geïdentificeerd

22 van de veertig overledenen zijn Zwitsers. Achttien anderen hadden een andere nationaliteit.

nos.nl

 

[Rikissa]

1p

I was worried it would come to this. It sounded from news reports that family members had no idea which hospitals their children were taken to, and of course, staff at those hospitals have no way means to identify them. Many will be in induced comas or intubated, and unable to speak as a result. They would have lost their ID or had all their clothes burned off in the fire and panic. I have assumed that, except for those children who died and have been identified, the remaining parents have had no way to know if their children are hospitalized and in which ones (or which countries), or dead. In effect, their children are displaced.

It is a situation with multiple sources of anguish for the parents: they don't know where their children are, they don't know if they're alive, they don't know what condition they're in or how severely burnt, they have no idea their prognosis, and they can't be with them to see them or offer a modicum of comfort.

All the 40 dead has been identified, as well as most of the 119 injured as well, but there are six patients with so severe burns that they have not been identified yet.

Crans-Montana: Police identify all 40 victims of Swiss bar fire

Among those killed by the blaze at Le Constellation is 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard, his mother confirms.

www.bbc.com

As for the injured patients, all but six are identified, and for those patients that has been transferred to other hospitals, their identities are known, and their relatives know where they are. I have worked at accident & emergency departments for more than 20 years, and are familiar with the routines, even when there are unidentified patients brought in. It is important there is an "identity" for each patient, be it their name, or an "unknown identity" until their identity has been verified, and that "unknown identity" follows the patient all the way, even when their identity is confirmed, so there are no "displaced" patients. There may be confusion, and not knowing where a loved one is, during the first hours, and a day or two at the most, but the police, and hospital, will see to that relatives know what has happened, and where a patient is, as soon as an identification has been done.