Sparks of Tragedy: Swiss Bar Fire Kills 40, Waitress Suspected of Starting It
A New Year’s Eve fire at Crans-Montana’s Le Constellation bar killed 40 people and injured over 100, after sparklers on champagne bottles allegedly started by waitress Cyane Panine ignited ceiling foam. Panine, 24, died in the blaze; investigators say the basement door was locked from the inside. Bar co-owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti face charges including manslaughter and negligent bodily harm, with Jacques in custody and Jessica barred from leaving Switzerland as a March trial approaches. The bar had not undergone safety inspections for five years, prompting safety-oversight scrutiny and questions about regulatory compliance.
