Swiss search for answers over bar fire

A criminal investigation is under way into the managers of Le Constellation bar, as pressure mounts for answers over a New Year’s fire at a Swiss ski resort that killed 40 people and injured a further 119

Jan 1, 01:30 (00:30GMT): Fire breaks out
in Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana,
in canton of Valais

SWITZERLAND
ITALY
FRANCE
GERMANY
60 miles
100km

Sparklers on bottles being carried too close to ceiling are likely cause of fire, according to preliminary investigation

Video inside bar appears to show moment foam on ceiling catches fire

Glass panels
Exit used to escape basement
Bar
Ground level
Basement
Main exit
Outside
Terrace

Diagram based on social media photos and videos, and is not to scale

Owners – French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti – who opened Le Constellation in 2015 are under investigation on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence

Questions must be answered over possible failures to ensure bar’s basement was safe, adequacy of its emergency systems, and whether inspections had been carried out frequently enough

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Le Constellation management via TripAdvisor
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