Death Toll From Crans-Montana New Year’s Bar Fire Rises to 41

Overview

• The Valais prosecutor said a Swiss 18-year-old died in a Zurich hospital on January 31, bringing the official death toll to 41.
• Dozens of the injured remain hospitalized, with 44 patients treated abroad at last count: 18 in France, 12 in Italy, eight in Germany and six in Belgium.
• Victims ranged from 14 to 39 years old and were mostly teenagers, including 23 Swiss nationals and 18 foreign citizens from several countries.
• Four people are under criminal investigation: the bar’s co-owners, Crans-Montana’s public security chief and a former fire-safety official, with the owners under electronic monitoring and without passports.
• Testimony describes a basement venue with combustible acoustic insulation, disputed claims about a deceased waitress’s role, and reports of a locked emergency exit and limited staff safety knowledge.