Investigations Continue Into Deadly Bar Fire at Swiss Alpine Resort

Investigations have turned up with major evidence after the deadly fire that struck a bar at the Crans-Montana alpine resort in Switzerland on New Year's Day.

On January 1, a fire erupted inside the underground Le Constellation bar at Switzerland's renowned Crans-Montana resort, rapidly engulfing the room – and eventually the building – in flames. 40 people were killed, and 115 others were injured while trying to escape. Many of the victims were unable to get out before suffocating due to smoke inhalation, while others remained trapped until they were overtaken by the fire.

After thorough investigations, authorities are relatively sure that the fire began when lit sparklers on glasses of wine came into contact with foam on the wall, meant to prevent sound inside the nightclub from echoing into the bar above. A service door that could have been used to escape was also discovered to be locked from the inside, preventing trapped victims from getting out of the building during the fire.

In addition, 20 of the 40 people killed were minors– technically, the bar's age limit was 16, but reports suggest that many children of even younger could have been present at the time.

Local police have taken the co-owner of the Le Constellation bar, along with his wife, into custody under the charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson. According to reports, the building had not received a safety inspection in over five years, and they are currently looking into whether fire extinguishers were present in the bar.

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Image credit to AFP