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Swiss Bar Fire Death Toll Rises to 41 After Teen Dies From Injuries

Families press for accountability during a criminal probe into suspected safety lapses.

Overview

  • An 18-year-old Swiss national died in a Zurich hospital on January 31, the Valais prosecutor said, raising the official toll from the Le Constellation blaze to 41.
  • Hundreds marched in Lutry near Lausanne on January 31, with bereaved relatives calling for "truth and justice" one month after the disaster.
  • Prosecutors say sparklers on champagne bottles likely ignited sound insulation foam on the low ceiling of the basement venue, where evacuation bottlenecks were reported.
  • Criminal inquiries target the bar’s co-owners and local safety officials over suspected negligent homicide and related offenses, as authorities disclose missed safety inspections since 2019.
  • Roughly 115–116 people were injured, with dozens still in specialist burn units in Switzerland and in France, Italy, Germany and Belgium, and cross-border cooperation continuing despite tensions voiced by Italy.