40 Dead in Swiss Bar Fire: The Fatal Orders Behind the 2026 Crans-Montana Tragedy

“Get the atmosphere going.” These four words by the bar owners allegedly triggered a chain of events that led to the deaths of 40 people. In the early hours of January 1, 2026, a celebratory night at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, turned into a death trap for young partygoers.

Sparklers and Locked Doors: A Recipe for Disaster

The blaze reportedly started when Cyane Panine, a 24-year-old French national and waitress, followed her employers' instructions to liven up a quiet night. She sat on a colleague's shoulders while holding champagne bottles with lit sparklers. The sparks ignited soundproofing foam on the ceiling, causing the basement bar to be engulfed in smoke within seconds. Investigators found that 34 of the victims died on a single, cramped staircase—the only way out of the basement.

Adding to the horror, the bar's basement door was reportedly "locked from the inside" to prevent people from entering without paying for expensive tables. Astrid, the mother of the deceased waitress, accused the owners of prioritize profit over lives. "If the door had been open, maybe there wouldn't have been any deaths," she told France 3 Occitanie.

Legal Accountability and Safety Failures

The co-owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face multiple charges including manslaughter and negligence. Shockingly, authorities revealed that the venue hadn't undergone a safety inspection in five years, despite Swiss laws requiring annual checks. While Jacques remains in custody, Jessica is banned from leaving the country ahead of their trial scheduled for March 2026.