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Crans-Montana Bar Fire: Prosecutor Says Pyrotechnic Bottle Candles Likely Sparked Deadly Flashover

Officials have opened a criminal inquiry into potential negligence.

Overview

  • Authorities now report 40 dead and 119 injured, with figures described as provisional as identification continues.
  • Procurator Béatrice Pilloud says pyrotechnic candles affixed to champagne bottles almost certainly ignited the ceiling, triggering a rapid flashover.
  • Police say the case is being treated as an accident, not terrorism, as forensic work and witness interviews proceed.
  • Investigators have questioned the venue’s owners and are examining construction materials, emergency exits, and crowd capacity after a crush on a narrow staircase hindered escape.
  • Emergency transfers include cross‑border moves to burn centers, with 11 Italian nationals among the injured and six reported missing according to the latest briefings.