On Jan. 1, 2026, Le Constellation, a bar in Switzerland caught fire in the city of Crans-Montana after not being inspected for five years, leaving 40 dead and hundreds more injured. It is believed that sparklers in the basement ignited the flammable foam ceiling and quickly spread, leading to this tragedy.

Swiss officials failed to carry out their yearly inspections between 2020 and 2025. 

“We bitterly regret this,” mayor of Crans-Montana Nicolas Féraud said in the New York Times.

Authorities believe that Cyane Panine, a waitress at the bar and one of the unfortunate casualties, was the one who allegedly started the fire. In photos, a waitress wearing a crash helmet and holding sparklers, believed to be her, sets the ceiling ablaze.

The owners of the bar, Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti, are under criminal investigation for the negligence that played part in the fire.

“Rest assured, we will cooperate fully in this regard and we will not attempt to shirk our responsibilities in any way,” the Moretti’s said in a statement that was submitted by their lawyers.

Feraud has banned all use of pyrotechnic devices indoors. In addition to commissioning an external firm to immediately inspect all public establishments, he denied that authorities were trying to evade responsibility and that he trusted Swiss courts to verify the truth of the fire.

Sébastien Fanti, a lawyer for three citizens that were injured in the fire, said that it was unusual for authorities that may face criminal responsibilities to “bring you the proof of their work … When 40 people are dead, you carry out a raid to seize documents. You do the work that any other police force in any other country would have done,” Fanti said in the New York Times.

Some question a decision made by prosecutors to let the Morettis go free during the investigation.

“In civilized Switzerland, prison doors will have to open for several people,”the infrastructure, transport and deputy prime minister Mr. Salvini wrote on social media.