Overview
- The Valais cantonal government said a flashover occurred at Le Constellation, where emergency services counted about 40 dead and roughly 115 injured.
- Specialists explain that once hot smoke gases ignite, the room heats rapidly and remaining combustible materials can catch fire almost at once.
- Experts reported temperatures in such events can reach 1000–1200 °C, leaving people inside with very low chances of survival without protective gear.
- Investigators have not confirmed an ignition source, though eyewitnesses reported sparklers on champagne bottles as a possible trigger.
- Risk factors under scrutiny include sealed, energy-efficient rooms and combustible ceiling or wall finishes, with recommended safeguards such as early detection tied to audible alarms, unobstructed escape routes with panic-function exits, and stricter controls on table pyrotechnics.