As investigations into the tragedy progress lapses in oversight are emerging. The authorities appear to have been lax in their enforcement of rules. A licence despite a convictionInvestigations into one of the managers of the Constellation bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana have raised uncomfortable questions about regulatory oversight. Why was Jacques Moretti, one […]
Switzerland pauses to mourn those who perished in Crans-Montana
At 1.59pm on Friday, Switzerland fell silent. Across the country, people observed a minute’s silence in memory of those killed and injured in the New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana. Many remained quiet for far longer, reported RTS. They chose not to speak—not just for a minute, but for almost half an hour, said Véronique […]
Taiwan becomes “super-aged”. Switzerland close behind
Taiwan has crossed a demographic threshold. For the first time, more than 20% of its population is aged 65 or over, officially classifying the island as a “super-aged” society under United Nations criteria, reported Focus Taiwan. According to government figures released on Friday, 4.67m people in Taiwan were aged 65 or above last year, accounting […]
Pyrotechnics and acoustic foam: a lethal mix in nightclub fires
Nightclub fires, like the recent tragedy at Le Constellation in Switzerland, have once again highlighted a grim reality: indoor pyrotechnic devices and combustible acoustic insulation dramatically increase the lethality of fires in entertainment venues. An examination of the 15 deadliest nightclub fires since 2000 shows how frequently these two factors recur. In 80% of cases, […]
Swiss canton bans pyrotechnics in public venues
On January 8th 2026 the canton of Vaud announced a ban on pyrotechnic devices inside public venues. The decision follows the fatal New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana and is part of a broader effort to tighten fire safety standards. Deeply affected by the tragedy, the cantonal government has ordered urgent measures to review and […]
Crans-Montana fire: criminal case opened against bar managers
Prosecutors in the Swiss canton of Valais have opened a criminal investigation into the managers of a bar in Crans-Montana where a fire killed 40 people and injured 119 others. The two suspects, a French couple, are being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, the prosecutor’s […]
Crans-Montana fire: latest from press conference
On 2 January 2026, following the New Year’s Eve fire at the Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, the Valais cantonal police and public prosecutor provided an update on the identification of victims, the progress of the investigation and the work being done. The inquiry continues with the aim of establishing the causes of what authorities describe […]
Crans-Montana fire tragedy: what is a flashover?
Flashover fires—such as the one that struck the Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve—are well known to firefighters but little understood by the public. A flashover is the moment at which a developing fire spreads suddenly and engulf an entire room. The process typically unfolds in stages: 1. In the initial phase, one […]
Deadly fire in Crans-Montana leaves more than 40 dead and more than 100 injured
A fire in a bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day has left about 40 people dead and 115 injured, many of them seriously, according to a Police statement. Swiss federal and cantonal authorities described the blaze as one of the worst tragedies the country has known. […]
The Swiss link to the Wham Christmas song
How the music video for 80’s hit song “Last Christmas” by the group Wham came to be filmed in Saas-Fee in Switzerland is a story of chance. According to Blick, roughly a year before the video was shot, Beat Anthamatten, director of the Grand Hotel Walliserhof in Saas-Fee, met one of the crew filming a […]
