Overview
- General prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud said witness accounts and video strongly indicate spray-fountain fireworks on champagne bottles ignited the ceiling, triggering a rapid flashover.
- Authorities report 40 dead and 119 injured, many with life‑threatening burns; dozens were transferred to specialist units in Switzerland and to clinics in France, Italy and Germany.
- Police are analyzing seized phones and footage as prosecutors assess whether to open negligent‑homicide proceedings; the bar’s owners have been questioned as witnesses with no arrests so far.
- Investigators are examining whether ceiling acoustic/insulation materials met code, with suspicion that combustible polyurethane foam may have fueled the blaze’s speed and intensity.
- Victim identification continues with specialist support and could take days, while officials confirmed the venue had a marked emergency exit that few reached in the fast‑moving fire; separately, Berlin police reported 430 New Year’s arrests and defended their tactics at demonstrations.