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Crans-Montana Bar Fire Kills 40 as Investigators Cite Sparklers as Likely Cause

Dozens of the most severely hurt are being transferred to specialized burn units abroad.

Overview

  • Authorities report 119 people injured, many critically, with 113 identified so far.
  • Prosecutors are treating the blaze as accidental and say sparklers or Bengal candles on champagne bottles likely ignited a low wooden ceiling, triggering a flashover.
  • Switzerland has begun evacuating 24 of the worst-injured to burn centers in neighboring countries, with officials expecting about 50 transfers in total.
  • Many victims are young and include foreign nationals; among the injured are 71 Swiss, 14 French and 11 Italian, with several other nationalities recorded.
  • Forensic teams are working to identify the dead and examine safety compliance at the basement venue, where escape via a narrow staircase was difficult.