I heard about the fire last night and the first thing I thought was that it was a terrorist attack. I'm glad it wasn't. Here is a summary of what happened, courtesy of Google AI:
While a formal investigation into the
January 1, 2026, tragedy is ongoing, witnesses and early reports indicate that the fire was likely caused by pyrotechnics used inside a crowded bar during New Year's Eve celebrations.
The fire broke out at approximately
1:30 a.m. at
Le Constellation
a popular bar and nightclub in the resort. According to witness accounts and early findings:
- Champagne Sparklers: Multiple witnesses reported that waitresses or staff members were carrying champagne bottles with lit sparklers (or Roman candles). In one instance, a staff member being carried on another's shoulders reportedly held a bottle too close to the wooden ceiling, causing it to ignite instantly.
- Rapid Spread: The fire spread across the wooden ceiling within seconds, leading to a flashover—a phenomenon where all combustible materials in an enclosed space ignite simultaneously.
- Secondary Explosion: The rapid ignition of gases during the flashover caused what witnesses described as an explosion, though authorities have clarified that the fire caused the explosion and not an external device.
- Existing Fire Ban: The town had previously banned unauthorized fireworks for the holiday due to an extremely high fire risk caused by a month-long lack of rainfall.
The incident resulted in at least
40 deaths and approximately
100 injuries. Authorities have officially ruled out terrorism and are treating the event as an accident.
