health
January 2, 2026
Crans-Montana fire: families face agonising wait for victims’ identification
Collective grief hangs over Swiss resort as relatives desperately seek information about missing loved ones
TL;DR
- A fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed about 40 people and critically injured 80 others during New Year's Eve celebrations.
- The fire is suspected to have originated from sparklers placed in champagne bottles that ignited flammable materials on the ceiling.
- Many of the victims and injured were young people, with nationalities including Swiss, Italian, French, and Serbian.
- Several individuals, including teenagers Achille Barosi, Chiara Costanzo, and Charlotte Niddam, are still missing.
- Investigations are underway to determine if the venue's acoustic foam ceiling complied with regulations and contributed to the fire's rapid spread.
- Tributes have been set up at the scene, and authorities are working to identify the deceased and remaining injured.
- Some survivors recounted seeing people fleeing the venue in panic and flames.
- The incident has caused widespread grief in Crans-Montana, with many residents having personal connections to the victims.
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