Swiss police have identified a further 16 victims who died after a fire swept through a New Year's party at a bar in a popular ski resort.
A 14-year-old Swiss girl is among those who now been identified, with the majority of those identified on Sunday being under 18.
Those identified by police included 10 Swiss people, as well as foreign nationals from Italy, Romania, Turkey and France.
Authorities have opened an investigation into two managers of the bar in Crans-Montana where the deadly blaze broke out.
The two are managers are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence, police said in a statement, days after the deadly blaze at Le Constellation.
Sparkler candles on champagne bottles have been identified as the likely cause of the incident that also injured 119.
The families of the 40 killed in the New Year's Eve fire have faced an agonising wait for information, with several saying they have been given no details at all in the days since.
Key Points
- Swiss police identify 16 more bodies after New Year's Eve bar fire
- Recap: Authorities open criminal investigation into Swiss ski bar after fire killed 40
- Witness to Swiss blaze 'shocked for life' after seeing victims burning
- Swiss justice minister apologises for tragedy
- Teenage girl educated in Britain missing after Swiss ski resort fire
Watch: Italian foreign minister says using fireworks in Swiss bar 'pretty irresponsible'
21:00 , Rebecca WhittakerWitnesses recall struggle to find emergency exits
20:30 , Rebecca WhittakerWitnesses have said it was not clear whether there were other emergency exits during the fire.
People who were in the club have described a single stairwell leading from the basement to the enclosed terrace, with a small door at the end, where desperate people trying to escape from both floors became trapped.
Laetitia Place, 17, said she had just entered the basement area expecting to meet friends when the fire exploded and raced across the ceiling.
"I saw a friend of mine, and then we saw the fire, and we went straight back up," she told Reuters.
"The first stairs are pretty easy to get through since they're wide," she said.
"But after that, there's the small door where everyone was pushing, and so we all fell. We were piled on top of each other; some people were burning, and some were dead next to us."
Swiss authorities open criminal investigation into ski bar after fire left 40 people dead
20:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Criminal investigation opened into Swiss ski bar after 40 people killed in fire
Watch: Man attempts to put out flames during deadly Swiss ski resort fire on New Years
19:30 , Rebecca WhittakerRecap: Authorities open criminal investigation into Swiss ski bar after fire killed 40
19:00 , Rebecca Whittaker- Two operators of a Swiss bar are under criminal investigation following a New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured 119.
- The blaze occurred at Le Constellation in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Valais, with prosecutors suspecting negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and arson by negligence.
- Indications suggest the fire started when sparklers, reportedly used with champagne bottles, came into contact with the bar's soundproofed ceiling, leading to a rapid and widespread inferno.
- Investigations will examine the bar's renovations, fire extinguishing systems, escape routes, and the number of people present, as authorities work to identify victims, many of whom are young people.
- One of the bar's owners stated that the establishment had undergone regular checks and complied with regulations, while residents call for an independent inquiry into the tragedy.
Mother of teenager who died in Swiss bar fire says he ‘has now left to party in paradise’
18:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Mother of boy who died in Swiss bar fire says he ‘has now left to party in paradise’
Hundreds walk through frosty streets following mass for victims of fire
17:00 , Rebecca WhittakerHundreds of people silently filed through the frosty streets of the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on Sunday to remember victims of a New Year bar fire.
Following a packed church mass that spilled outdoors, the crowd slowly walked towards an impromptu shrine to the victims next to the "Le Constellation" bar that went up in flames in the early hours of January 1.
"It's to be together with the people who are suffering, who have lost somebody in the family, children or friends," said 76-year-old Charlotte Schumacher, a participant in the procession. "I know people who have lost their grandchildren."
Watch: Witness to Swiss blaze 'shocked for life' after seeing victims burning
16:30 , Rebecca WhittakerWho are the victims identified after Switzerland Ski bar fire?
16:00 , Rebecca Whittaker- A further 16 victims have been identified by Swiss police after a deadly ire swept through a New Year's party at a Ski bar,
- A Swiss girl, 14, is among those identified, with the majority of those being identified under the age of 18.
- Ten Swiss people have been identified so far, as well as Italian, Romanian, Turkish and French nationals.
- The New Year's Eve fire killed 40 people and injured 119
Recap: Who are the French couple under criminal investigation for the fire?
15:32 , Rebecca WhittakerAt least two people who ran the Swiss bar that burst into flames during a New Year’s Eve party are under criminal investigation.
The investigation has been launched against a French couple who are widely named in the media as Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
They are being investigated for suspected manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, the Swiss prosecutors office in Valais said.
Officials have said the likely cause of the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was sparklers on bottles being carried too close to the ceiling.
Investigators are looking into whether the venue’s acoustic foam was “also the cause of the problem”, as well as the bar’s compliance with regulations, said Beatrice Pillous, the lead prosecutor in the canton of Valais.
Mass held for victims of fire
14:30 , Athena StavrouA solemn Mass was held on Sunday for the victims of the devastating New Year's Eve bar fire in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, which claimed 40 lives and left many severely injured.
Distraught parents, some still awaiting news of their children, joined teenagers and police officers in shared grief, beginning the arduous process of mourning.
The service, held at the Chapelle St-Christophe in Crans-Montana, saw attendees comforting one another.
Inside the crowded pews, a grieving woman listened intently, her hands clasped, occasionally clutching rosary beads, as readings were delivered in German, French, and Italian. Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds more followed the Mass on a screen installed outside the church.
A silent march to the site of the tragedy was scheduled to follow the service.
Families of those missing after fatal Crans Montana fire speak out: ‘The body of my son is somewhere’
12:38 , Athena Stavrou
Families of those missing after fatal Crans Montana fire speak out
Recap: Authorities open criminal investigation into Swiss ski bar after fire killed 40
12:00 , Athena Stavrou- Two operators of a Swiss bar are under criminal investigation following a New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured 119.
- The blaze occurred at Le Constellation in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Valais, with prosecutors suspecting negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and arson by negligence.
- Indications suggest the fire started when sparklers, reportedly used with champagne bottles, came into contact with the bar's soundproofed ceiling, leading to a rapid and widespread inferno.
- Investigations will examine the bar's renovations, fire extinguishing systems, escape routes, and the number of people present, as authorities work to identify victims, many of whom are young people.
- One of the bar's owners stated that the establishment had undergone regular checks and complied with regulations, while residents call for an independent inquiry into the tragedy.
Video: Man attempts to put out flames during deadly Swiss ski resort fire on New Years
12:17 , Athena StavrouPictured: Tributes paid to victims of blaze
11:03 , Athena Stavrou
Witnesses recall struggle to find emergency exits
10:29 , Athena StavrouWitnesses have said it was not clear whether there were other emergency exits during the fire.
People who were in the club have described a single stairwell leading from the basement to the enclosed terrace, with a small door at the end, where desperate people trying to escape from both floors became trapped.
Laetitia Place, 17, said she had just entered the basement area expecting to meet friends when the fire exploded and raced across the ceiling.
"I saw a friend of mine, and then we saw the fire, and we went straight back up," she told Reuters.
"The first stairs are pretty easy to get through since they're wide," she said.
"But after that, there's the small door where everyone was pushing, and so we all fell. We were piled on top of each other; some people were burning, and some were dead next to us."
Witness to Swiss blaze 'shocked for life' after seeing victims burning
09:35 , Athena StavrouSwiss police identify 16 more bodies after New Year's Eve bar fire
09:11 , Athena StavrouSwiss police have identified a further 16 victims who died after a fire swept through a New Year's party at a bar in a popular ski resort.
A 14-year-old Swiss girl is among those who now been identified, with the majority of those identified on Sunday being under 18.
Those identified by police included 10 Swiss people, as well as foreign nationals from Italy, Romania, Turkey and France.
Officials name deceased victim
08:30 , Namita SinghOn Friday, officials had only identified one of the dead, a teenage Italian international golfer, Emanuele Galeppini.
According to two people familiar with the investigation, some of the victims may be under 16.
Local residents said the bar was popular with young people and the Swiss government said many of the dead were likely youths. Beer and wine can be drunk from age 16 in Switzerland.
Swiss authorities have identified eight Swiss nationals among those killed. While the names of the victims have not been released, they were all aged between 16 to 24 years.
Swiss justice minister apologises for tragedy
08:00 , Namita SinghThe Swiss justice minister said he was “so sorry” for the tragedy that killed over 40 and injured 119 during a New Year’s Eve party.
“It was an enormous tragedy. We're all so sorry that this had to happen," Beat Jans told reporters, standing in front of the cordoned-off bar, Le Constellation.
Masked Singer act pulled due to ‘potential insensitivities’ after Switzerland bar fire
07:53 , Athena Stavrou
Masked Singer act pulled due to ‘insensitivities’ after Switzerland bar fire
Residents welcome criminal probe in fatal bar blaze
07:30 , Namita SinghResidents still grieving over the sudden loss of lives in Valais have welcomed the news of the criminal probe, saying it was important that authorities get to the bottom of the case.
"We need a moment to reflect," said one, Patricia Mazzoni, 55. "But afterwards, I'd like an independent investigation. An independent investigation to find out who failed here."
Witnesses reported seeing staff at Le Constellation carrying so-called fountain candles atop bottles of champagne, and questions have also arisen about a foam material used to soundproof the ceiling of the basement where revellers danced.
Beatrice Pilloud, chief prosecutor of Valais, said indications were that the fire started because the sparklers got too near to the ceiling.
"From there, a rapid, very rapid and widespread blaze ensued," she said on Friday afternoon.
Investigations will look at renovations made to the bar, the fire extinguishing systems and escape routes, as well as the number of people inside when the blaze began, prosecutors said.
Who are the French couple under criminal investigation for the fire?
07:00 , Namita SinghAt least two people who ran the Swiss bar that burst into flames during a New Year’s Eve party are under criminal investigation.
The investigation has been launched against a French couple who are widely named in the media as Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
They are being investigated for suspected manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, the Swiss prosecutors office in Valais said.
Officials have said the likely cause of the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was sparklers on bottles being carried too close to the ceiling.
Investigators are looking into whether the venue’s acoustic foam was “also the cause of the problem”, as well as the bar’s compliance with regulations, said Beatrice Pillous, the lead prosecutor in the canton of Valais.
Swiss prosecutors investigate pair who ran bar over deadly blaze
06:30 , Namita SinghTwo people who ran a Swiss bar that burst into flames during a New Year's Eve party, killing 40, are under criminal investigation on suspicion of offences including homicide by negligence, prosecutors said on Saturday.
Two days after the fire, in which 119 people suffered injuries including severe burns, officials were still trying to identify many of those killed and attention turned to how one of Switzerland's worst tragedies could have occurred.
The bar's two operators are suspected of offences including homicide by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, prosecutors in Valais, the canton that is home to the bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, said in a statement. They did not name the pair.
Masked singer act pulled due to ‘potential insensitivities’ after Swiss bar fire
06:00 , Namita SinghAn act has been pulled from Saturday's The Masked Singer episode due to "potential insensitivities" in the wake of the Swiss bar fire that killed 40 people.
It was the first instalment in the 2026 series of the singing competition, which involves celebrities performing in elaborate costumes.
Red Panda, one of several characters that contestants are disguised as, was removed from the episode.
An ITV spokesperson said: "In light of the tragic events in Switzerland, we took the decision to remove Red Panda's performance on The Masked Singer in tonight's programme owing to potential insensitivities within the theme and lyrics of the song.
"Viewers will get to see Red Panda perform in the coming weeks."
Recap: Authorities open criminal investigation into Swiss ski bar after fire killed 40
05:30 , Rebecca Whittaker- Two operators of a Swiss bar are under criminal investigation following a New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured 119.
- The blaze occurred at Le Constellation in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Valais, with prosecutors suspecting negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and arson by negligence.
- Indications suggest the fire started when sparklers, reportedly used with champagne bottles, came into contact with the bar's soundproofed ceiling, leading to a rapid and widespread inferno.
- Investigations will examine the bar's renovations, fire extinguishing systems, escape routes, and the number of people present, as authorities work to identify victims, many of whom are young people.
- One of the bar's owners stated that the establishment had undergone regular checks and complied with regulations, while residents call for an independent inquiry into the tragedy.
Watch: Swiss bar fire appears to have been started by sparkler candles on champagne bottles, authorities say
05:00 , Rebecca WhittakerOwner of bar says renovations carried out 'in line with regulations'
04:30 , Rebecca WhittakerThe owner of Le Constellation bar told Swiss and Italian media on Friday that all renovations to the establishment had been carried out “in accordance with regulations”.
Jacques Moretti said the establishment had been inspected three times over the past 10 years, in an interview with Swiss newspaper Tribune de Geneve.
Authorities interviewed the French couple who bought the bar at the Crans-Montana resort in 2015, according to the Valais company registry.
Attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said they had not been interviewed under caution, but added: “If there is a flight risk, it is possible for us to take the measures needed.”
Recap: Swiss prosecutors place bar managers under investigation after deadly blaze
04:00 , Rebecca WhittakerTwo managers of the Swiss bar where a a fire at a New Year's party left 40 people dead are under investigation, police have said.
Authorities confirmed they have opened the investigation on Saturday, days after the deadly blaze at Le Constellation in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana.
The two are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence, police said in a statement.
Teenage girl educated in Britain missing after Swiss ski resort fire
03:30 , Rebecca WhittakerA former pupil at a British school is among those missing after a fire at a Swiss ski resort killed 40 people and injured 119 others.
Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15, previously attended Immanuel College in Hertfordshire, according to multiple reports.
In a statement published by several newspapers, the private Jewish school confirmed she was missing.
The school urged the community to come together and said it was “praying for a miracle”.
Pictures of the missing teenager were shared in a post on an Instagram account set up to help locate survivors.
According to the Crans-Montana resort website, she had been working as a babysitter in the area.
Former British schoolgirl missing after Swiss ski resort fire
Families of those missing after fatal Crans Montana fire speak out: ‘The body of my son is somewhere’
02:30 , Rebecca WhittakerFamilies of those missing after fatal Crans Montana fire speak out
Watch: Witness to Swiss blaze 'shocked for life' after seeing victims burning
01:30 , Rebecca WhittakerWitnesses recall struggle to find emergency exits
00:30 , Rebecca WhittakerWitnesses have said it was not clear whether there were other emergency exits during the fire.
People who were in the club have described a single stairwell leading from the basement to the enclosed terrace, with a small door at the end, where desperate people trying to escape from both floors became trapped.
Laetitia Place, 17, said she had just entered the basement area expecting to meet friends when the fire exploded and raced across the ceiling.
"I saw a friend of mine, and then we saw the fire, and we went straight back up," she told Reuters.
"The first stairs are pretty easy to get through since they're wide," she said.
"But after that, there's the small door where everyone was pushing, and so we all fell. We were piled on top of each other; some people were burning, and some were dead next to us."
Swiss authorities open criminal investigation into ski bar after fire left 40 people dead
Saturday 3 January 2026 23:30 , Rebecca WhittakerCriminal investigation opened into Swiss ski bar after 40 people killed in fire
'We thought it was a joke' moments later, there was a huge cloud of black smoke, witnesses recall
Saturday 3 January 2026 22:30 , Rebecca WhittakerWitnesses reported seeing a staff member, who was sitting on the shoulders of a colleague, carrying bottles with fizzing candle-style sparklers in the basement section shortly before the ceiling caught fire.
"We thought it was a joke, or that it wasn't necessarily serious," said Axel Clavier, a teenager who was in the basement with friends when the fire started.
Moments later, there was a huge cloud of black smoke, Clavier told the Swiss news agency Keystone. "We couldn't breathe anymore."
Julia, a 19-year-old from the Swiss city of Lausanne said it all happened in seconds.
"People just suddenly started running and walking on top of each other," she told Reuters. "There was an enormous crowd, and this really small entrance, and it was hard to escape."
She was on the ground floor and escaped with an injured foot. A friend, who was with her, got caught in the flames that tore through from the basement and ended up in hospital with severe burns, she said.
Swiss prosecutors place bar managers under investigation after deadly blaze: recap
Saturday 3 January 2026 21:20 , Athena StavrouTwo managers of the Swiss bar where a a fire at a New Year's party left 40 people dead are under investigation, police have said.
Authorities confirmed they have opened the investigation on Saturday, days after the deadly blaze at Le Constellation in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana.
The two are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence, police said in a statement.
Where are the victims from?
Saturday 3 January 2026 20:30 , Athena StavrouMany of those killed, injured or missing are believed to be foreign nationals.
The injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland, according to Frederic Gisler, police commander of the Valais region.
The nationalities of 14 people are still unclear.
Watch: Witness to Swiss blaze 'shocked for life' after seeing victims burning
Saturday 3 January 2026 19:38 , Athena StavrouFull story: How New Year celebrations turned to tragedy as sparklers on bottles likely cause of blaze
Saturday 3 January 2026 19:05 , Athena Stavrou
How New Year celebrations at Swiss ski bar turned to tragedy as likely cause revealed
Doctor describe 'traumatic' scenes after fire
Saturday 3 January 2026 18:33 , Athena StavrouDoctors treating the victims of the fatal fire at a Swiss Alpine bar say the experience has left them traumatised.
"This place was very well known as somewhere to celebrate the new year," Eric Bonvin, general director of the regional hospital in Sion that took in dozens of injured people, told AP on Friday.
"Also, seeing young people arrive – that's always traumatic."
"It was hard to live through for everyone. Also probably because everyone was asking themselves, 'Was my child, my cousin, someone from the region at this party?’”
Witnesses describe seeing servers arriving with burning sparklers before blaze engulfed the bar
Saturday 3 January 2026 18:02 , Athena StavrouClavier, a Parisian teenager, said he did not see the fire start, but he saw servers arrive with Champagne bottles topped with the burning sparklers in Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana.
Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle.
The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling of the bar, they told the broadcaster.
One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from the basement nightclub up a flight of stairs and through a narrow door.
Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.
Pictured: Tributes paid to victims in Crans-Montana
Saturday 3 January 2026 17:29 , Athena Stavrou
