A fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort appears to have been caused by sparklers placed on bottles of champagne that came too close to the ceiling, authorities said.
Forty people died after the blaze in the early hours of New Year's Day in Crans-Montana, while 119 were injured.
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud told a news conference on Friday the investigation would focus on the materials used on the site, the bar's fire safety measures, its capacity and the number of people inside at the time of the fire.
The investigation will explore whether prosecutions will be necessary. If that is the case, and if those people are still alive, there will be a case opened against them, she said.
Everything leads us to think that the fire started from sparkling candles - or sparklers - which were put on bottles of champagne [that were] moved too close to the ceiling. From that, a blaze began very quickly, Ms. Pilloud told the conference.
Authorities are still working on the formal identification of the 40 people killed in the fire, with police commander Frédéric Gisler saying that is our priority. Many of those injured in the fire remain in critical condition, authorities said. Of those injured, 113 have been formally identified, which includes Swiss, French, Italian nationals, among others.
Among those injured were 19-year-old French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos, who was severely burned and has been airlifted to Germany for treatment.
Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, mentioned that around 50 injured individuals will be transferred to specialized centers for severe burns across Europe.
A ceremony will be held in Crans-Montana on 9 January to allow people to come together for a moment of national mourning. Families of the victims have begun gathering to pay their respects as investigations continue, leaving tearful messages and flowers near the bar.
Le Constellation bar, known for its festive celebrations, had a capacity of 300 but officials are yet to confirm how many were inside at the time of the tragedy. The bar's compliance with building regulations is also under scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
The tragic incident is still developing as families await further updates on their loved ones and authorities work to piece together the events of that night.
