Overview
- Cantonal police and prosecutors opened a case against the French operators on counts of negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury and causing a fire.
- Prosecutors cite videos and testimony pointing to party fountains on champagne bottles as the likely ignition source, a hypothesis still being forensically tested.
- Experts say polyurethane acoustic foam on the ceiling likely accelerated a flashover and question the installation and compliance with safety rules, including the adequacy and accessibility of exits.
- Authorities report 40 dead and 119 injured, with dozens of severely burned patients transferred to specialized centers abroad, including Stuttgart and Ludwigshafen, as EU civil protection supports medical evacuations.
- Identification of victims is underway with the first four returned to families, and among the severely injured is FC Metz youth player Tahirys Dos Santos, who was airlifted to Germany for treatment.