😢 “HE FOUGHT FOR A MONTH… BUT THE BURNS WERE TOO MUCH.” 18-year-old Alexis has become the 41st heartbreaking victim of the Crans-Montana New Year’s inferno—after clinging to life in agony for weeks. 💔

Just hours into 2026, flames ripped through the packed Le Constellation bar in Switzerland’s glamorous ski resort, claiming dozens of young lives in seconds. Sparklers on champagne bottles ignited the ceiling, turning a celebration into a nightmare of smoke, panic, and locked exits. Over 100 injured, many teens fighting severe burns like Alexis.

Friends called him a passionate athlete, a brilliant student with endless dreams. Now his family buries a boy who should have had his whole life ahead. The death toll keeps rising… and questions rage: Why no fire inspections for 5 years? Why were safety failures ignored? Owners charged, a memorial even burned down—how much more tragedy can this community take?

Full details:

The death toll from a devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has climbed to 41 following the passing of an 18-year-old Swiss national who had been fighting severe burn injuries for nearly a month.

The young man, identified in some reports as Alexis Bollag, died on January 31, 2026, at the University Hospital of Zurich, where he had been receiving intensive care since the early hours of January 1. Swiss prosecutors confirmed the fatality, stating that the teenager succumbed to complications from catastrophic burns sustained during the blaze. His funeral was held in Lutry on February 7, drawing mourners who remembered him as a passionate athlete, a dedicated student, and a deeply loved young person with a bright future.

The fire erupted at approximately 1:26 a.m. CET on January 1 during crowded New Year’s celebrations at Le Constellation, a popular venue in the upscale Valais canton resort known for attracting young crowds, including many teenagers. Authorities believe the inferno began when sparklers attached to champagne bottles came too close to the ceiling’s flammable materials, igniting rapidly and spreading through the packed space. Witnesses described scenes of chaos: people smashing windows with chairs to escape, victims emerging in singed clothing or underwear, and thick smoke trapping dozens inside.

Initial reports listed 40 fatalities and 116 injuries, with many victims suffering severe burns requiring specialized treatment across Swiss hospitals. The majority of the dead and injured were young, with over half under 18, including several teenagers as young as 14. Nationalities among the victims included Swiss, French, Italian, Romanian, and Turkish citizens. The high number of foreign tourists and locals celebrating the holiday amplified the tragedy’s international impact.

Swiss authorities launched a criminal investigation immediately, focusing on potential negligence. Prosecutors in the Valais canton charged bar owners Jacques Moretti, 49, and Jessica Moretti, 40, with homicide, injuries, and arson by negligence. The couple has denied primary responsibility, reportedly pointing to a 24-year-old waitress, Cyane Panine—who perished in the fire—for handling the flaming champagne bottles. Investigations revealed that the bar had not undergone mandatory annual fire safety inspections between 2020 and 2025, raising questions about oversight failures linked to administrative issues or IT system problems in local fire safety records.

Survivors and witnesses recounted harrowing details. One 18-year-old outside the bar at the time spotted flames through the glass doors and saw patrons desperately trying to break out. Another described seeing burned individuals fleeing into the snow-covered streets, with the scene evoking a “horror movie.” Emergency responders faced challenges accessing the venue quickly due to the resort’s layout and the rapid spread of the fire.

In the aftermath, a makeshift memorial of flowers, candles, and messages grew outside the charred bar. However, on February 8, that tribute itself caught fire around 6 a.m., destroying the site. Valais Cantonal Police attributed the blaze to unattended candles within the tent structure, ruling out arson at this stage. The incident added to the community’s grief, prompting local officials to relocate remaining tributes to a safer area on Rue Centrale.

Public mourning included a nationwide minute of silence on January 9, with church bells ringing and flags lowered. Hundreds gathered in Crans-Montana for processions and vigils. The Jewish community in nearby Geneva also responded, with Chabad-Lubavitch leaders offering support amid reports of at least one Jewish victim among the dead.

The tragedy has prompted scrutiny of fire safety regulations in Swiss nightlife venues, particularly those hosting young crowds. The legal drinking age in Valais is 16, contributing to the youthful demographic at Le Constellation. Critics have highlighted gaps in enforcement, including the lack of recent inspections and questions over evacuation procedures. Evacuation simulations by experts have since suggested that delays in exiting may have worsened outcomes.

As of early February 2026, over 80 injured individuals remained hospitalized, many with life-altering burns requiring long-term rehabilitation. Families of victims have expressed frustration over aspects of the investigation, including limited autopsies—only a handful performed at family request after bodies were released—and delays in determining exact causes of death for some, such as smoke inhalation versus burns or trampling in the panic.

The Valais prosecutor’s office, led by Beatrice Pilloud, has stated that the probe continues without releasing further personal details about the latest victim. No additional fatalities have been reported since Alexis’s death, though the emotional toll on survivors and families persists.

This incident ranks among Switzerland’s worst modern disasters, drawing comparisons to past nightclub fires in Europe where overcrowding, flammable decorations, and inadequate exits proved deadly. Swiss officials have pledged reforms to strengthen fire safety protocols in public venues, including mandatory annual inspections and enhanced training for bar staff.

For the community of Crans-Montana, a luxury resort synonymous with winter glamour, the fire has left a lasting scar. Tributes continue online and in person, with calls for accountability and support for grieving families. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on preventing similar tragedies and honoring those lost—young lives extinguished far too soon in what began as a night of celebration.