Crans-Montana Residents Call for Independent Probe After Deadly New Year’s Fire

Residents of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, are demanding an independent investigation following a deadly fire at Le Constellation Bar during New Year celebrations, which claimed at least 40 lives and left 119 injured. The blaze erupted at around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, during peak festivities, and quickly engulfed the venue.

Authorities in the Valais canton confirmed that the bar operators are under criminal investigation for suspected offenses including homicide by negligence, bodily harm, and negligent arson.

Locals expressed concern that the bar may not have complied with fire safety regulations, citing social media footage showing staff handling bottles with candle-style sparklers in the basement shortly before the ceiling caught fire. Some residents emphasized the need to determine whether the incident was a tragic accident or preventable negligence.

Swiss Federal Councillor for Justice Beat Jans acknowledged the seriousness of the tragedy and stressed that the authorities are committed to ensuring accountability through due legal process, while the community continues to mourn the victims.