Switzerland Holds Memorial for 40 Victims of Alpine Bar Fire

On Jan 1, 2026, a blaze erupted less than two hours after midnight at the Le Constellation bar in the resort town of Crans‑Montana, Switzerland. The fire, ignited by sparks from candle‑lit champagne bottles, claimed 40 lives—many teens and young adults—and left 116 people seriously injured. Swiss authorities are conducting a criminal investigation against the bar’s managers for involuntary homicide and fire‑caused injury. The region’s chief prosecutor noted that fire‑safety inspections had not been performed since 2019. On Jan 9, the nation will hold a memorial service and a five‑minute bell toll as a national day of mourning, with a minute of silence at 2 p.m. local time.