The devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation nightclub in the upscale Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana has left 40 people dead and over 100 injured, marking one of the country’s worst tragedies in decades. The blaze, which erupted in the early hours of January 1, 2026, turned a joyful celebration into a scene of unimaginable horror, with young partygoers—many in their teens and twenties—trapped in the basement venue as flames spread rapidly. Now, amid an ongoing criminal investigation, the parents of the young waitress identified as the one who accidentally ignited the fire have publicly condemned the club’s owners, accusing them of dangerous cost-cutting measures that they believe directly contributed to the high death toll, including the loss of their daughter.

Cyane Panine, a 24-year-old waitress at Le Constellation, has been named as the employee seen in dramatic footage moments before the inferno began. Videos and photographs captured her wearing a crash helmet and being hoisted onto a colleague’s shoulders while holding champagne bottles fitted with lit sparklers—part of a promotional spectacle designed to hype up the crowd and encourage expensive table bookings. The pyrotechnics, described as fountain-style sparklers, are believed to have come into contact with flammable soundproofing foam or material on the ceiling, triggering an immediate and ferocious blaze. Within seconds, the fire engulfed the basement, creating a deadly flashover effect that left little time for escape.

Eyewitnesses recounted chaos as flames raced across the wooden furnishings and low ceiling, filling the space with thick smoke and intense heat. Partygoers screamed, smashed windows, and desperately tried to force their way up a narrow stairwell to the main exit. Many victims were found clustered near blocked or inaccessible doors, suffocating or succumbing to burns. The club’s layout—renovated in ways that reportedly narrowed escape routes—exacerbated the panic, with investigators noting the main staircase had been reduced in width to accommodate more tables.

In the wake of the tragedy, Cyane’s parents, Astrid and Jerôme Panine, have spoken out with profound grief and mounting anger. They describe their daughter as a dedicated young woman who was simply following instructions from her employers to “get the atmosphere going” during the packed New Year’s Eve event. Astrid recounted the heartbreaking final moments: Cyane was carried unconscious to a nearby bar after the fire, where attempts to resuscitate her lasted 40 minutes but ultimately failed. She was later buried in the French port city of Sète, leaving her family shattered.

The parents have directed their fury at club owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti, a French couple prominent in the Swiss hospitality scene. They allege that an emergency exit in the basement was deliberately kept shut or locked—not for safety reasons, but to prevent people from sneaking in without paying the exorbitant €1,000 table charge. Instead of hiring additional security or a doorman to manage entry properly, the owners allegedly opted for this shortcut to save costs, a decision Astrid described as driven purely by budgeting concerns that may have cost dozens of lives.

This accusation aligns with broader criticisms emerging from the investigation. Former employees have come forward with alarming accounts of safety lapses: fire extinguishers reportedly kept in locked rooms, no proper staff briefings on emergency procedures, and repeated use of high-risk pyrotechnics despite concerns raised by some workers. One ex-waitress said she quit due to fears that holding sparklers so close to the ceiling could ignite hair or the surroundings, while another warned that such practices made a fire “inevitable.” The Morettis, who treated Cyane almost like a “stepdaughter” according to their statements to prosecutors, have faced intense scrutiny. Jacques Moretti was detained as a flight risk, and both are under investigation for potential charges including manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.

The fire’s rapid spread has been attributed to multiple contributing factors beyond the initial spark. The venue’s basement location, flammable materials, inward-opening doors in some areas, and overcrowding created a perfect storm. Swiss authorities confirmed the likely cause as the sparklers igniting the ceiling, leading to a flashover—a phenomenon where intense heat causes everything in the room to ignite almost simultaneously. This mirrors past nightclub disasters worldwide, where blocked exits and poor safety compliance turned minor incidents into mass casualties.

The aftermath has been heartbreaking for families across Europe. With victims from multiple countries, including many teenagers, parents endured agonizing waits, calling hospitals, searching the resort, and clinging to hope amid the rising death toll. National mourning was observed, with Swiss President Guy Parmelin describing the event as cutting short “many young lives.” Memorials, candle vigils, and tributes have appeared in Crans-Montana, while authorities imposed a temporary ban on pyrotechnics in enclosed public spaces and launched widespread safety inspections.

The Morettis have expressed profound devastation, claiming they cannot sleep or eat and defending past safety inspections. However, questions linger about the adequacy of those checks in a region reliant on tourism revenue. Local officials face criticism for inconsistent enforcement, with some municipalities under-resourced for annual inspections required by law.

As the investigation continues, Cyane’s parents remain focused on seeking accountability. They insist their daughter bears no responsibility, emphasizing she followed orders in a high-pressure environment. Their public statements have shifted the narrative from the spark that started the fire to the systemic failures that allowed it to become lethal. For a community still reeling from the loss, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent safety standards in entertainment venues—especially during high-stakes celebrations where the line between festivity and disaster can vanish in an instant.

The full scope of blame and potential reforms will unfold in the coming months, but for now, the focus remains on honoring the victims and supporting the survivors. The New Year’s joy that turned to ashes in Crans-Montana has left an indelible scar on Switzerland and beyond, underscoring how quickly negligence can transform celebration into catastrophe.