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(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

Two French managers of the bar have been interviewed as part of an investigation into how the fire started, said Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais Canton attorney general.

The regional attorney general told a press conference on January 2 safety arrangement at the popular bar were being looked into. She said: “Videos have been obtained and examined, people interviewed, observations made, two French managers of bar have been interviewed as well as people who escaped. We have drawn up a list of people present which are being used to help identification.”

Ms Pilloud said that authorities will look into safety and security arrangements which were made at Le Constellation. This will include looking at the “premises and capacity to welcome guests”, she said while saying the investigation will look at renovations which were undertaken, materials used and licences at the bar.

Fire examiners will also look into fire safety and exit routes. Ms Pilloud concluded by saying after all this has been looked into, then a decision will be made on whether there will be criminal charges.

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Officials confirmed that they believe sparkler ignited the blaze in the bustling bar at the press conference. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said: “The fire started from sparkler candles, known as flares, placed on top of champagne bottles which were too close to the ceiling. It led to a flashover where the fire spread rapidly.”

The inferno engulfed Le Constellation bar at Crans-Montana, filled predominantly with young party-goers ringing in the New Year. Numerous chilling accounts of panic have emerged as patrons frantically tried to escape the bar, believed to have caught fire due to sparklers attached to champagne bottles.

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Social media pages have been established as loved ones try to locate those still missing.