The fire at Le Constellation bar, already considered one of the worst tragedies in Swiss history, joins others that have left hundreds dead in nightclubs and bars around the world in recent decades.
The fire, which occurred on the first day of the year, left at least 40 dead and more than a hundred injured, according to the country’s authorities.
A group that brings together survivors and friends of the victims of the fire at the Kiss nightclub, in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the collective Kiss: let it not repeat itself published on social networks: “History repeats itself”.
In the early hours of January 27, 2013, 242 people died due to a fire inside the Rio Grande do Sul nightclub, caused by a pyrotechnic device lit by the group Gurizada Fandangueira.
Survivors of the tragedy in Switzerland reported that a waitress placed birthday candles on champagne bottles and one of them was lifted.
“In a few seconds, the entire ceiling caught fire. Everything was made of wood,” a French tourist told BFMTV.
An apparent promotional video from the May 2024 Constellation shows women in motorcycle helmets riding through the bar while carrying flares in alcohol bottles above their heads.
However, Swiss investigative authorities have not yet confirmed the possible causes of the fire.
Remember other tragedies that have occurred at indoor parties around the world in recent years.
Kiss Nightclub, Rio Grande do Sul (2013)
On January 27, 2013, the fire that occurred during the “Agromerados” university festival caused the death of 242 people and injured more than 600 people, most of them young people.
The fire broke out when the singer of the group Gurizada Fandangueira, Marcelo de Jesus dos Santos, ignited a pyrotechnic device.
Within seconds, a spark reached the polyurethane covering of the stage ceiling. The flames spread quickly.
In 2021, a trial took place and resulted in the conviction of four people: club partners Elissandro Callegaro Spohr and Mauro Londero Hoffmann; and Gurizada Fandangueira group members Marcelo de Jesus dos Santos and Luciano Augusto Bonilha Leão.
This jury was canceled, but in April 2025 the Federal Court (STF) confirmed the convictions.
Pulse Nightclub, North Macedonia (2025)
In 2025, one of the most serious cases was that of the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia.
A total of 63 people died in the March fire, caused by sparks from pyrotechnic devices.
About 1,500 people were attending a concert by DNK, a popular hip-hop duo in the country, when the fire broke out.
Footage showed the band playing on stage when two flares went off and sparks hit the ceiling, before quickly spreading.
In November, the Macedonian court began trying 35 people and three companies. The result has not yet been announced.
Birch By Romeo Lane, India (2025)
In late 2025, on December 6, 25 people died in a fire at a popular nightclub in the coastal region of Goa, India.
The cause is believed to be a gas cylinder which exploded in the kitchen, near where several bodies were found.
Most of the victims were employees of the club in Arpora, north Goa.
Tourists have also died.
The owners of the Birch By Romeo Lane nightclub fled to Phuket, Thailand, shortly after the tragedy.
Meanwhile, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were deported to India for trial.
Jet Set Nightclub, Dominican Republic (2025)
Also in 2025, in April, the roof of the famous Jet Set nightclub collapsed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, killing 232 people.
Among the victims were figures from the Dominican political, cultural and sporting world.
Hundreds of people watched the performance of Rubby Pérez, Merengue star, who died in the collapse.
The owner of the iconic Jet Set Club in the Dominican Republic, Antonio Espaillat, and his sister Maribel Espaillat were arrested in June for their alleged responsibility in the incident.
The arrest came after a former Jet Set employee presented screenshots of conversations in which he warned owners about the risk of holding the party on April 8 because the structure was in poor condition.
Club Colectiv, Romania (2015)
In October 2015, 64 people died following a fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, also due to fireworks that ignited the foam on the walls of the venue.
The tragedy led to massive protests and the resignation of the government led by then Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The story became an award-winning documentary, Collective, by Romanian director Alexander Nanau.
Three owners of the nightclub were arrested, accused that the place was overcrowded, did not have the required number of emergency exits and was not authorized to hold shows.
Lame horse, Russia (2009)
In the city of Perm, Russia, fireworks inside the Lame Horse nightclub caused an explosion and fire that killed 154 people on December 4, 2009.
Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.
Footage recorded by a person at the scene showed guests dancing shortly before sparks from the fireworks set the roof of the house on fire.
According to Russian authorities, nightclub managers ignored repeated warnings about failures in the house’s fire safety devices.
Several people, including the co-owner of the nightclub, were found guilty and arrested.
The club’s founder, Alexander Titlyanov, died from his injuries shortly after the tragedy.
Republic of Cromañón, Argentina (2004)
On December 30, 2004, a fire killed 194 people at the República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital.
The fire broke out thanks to the use of fireworks by the rock group Callejeros, who were performing there.
Most of the dead were under the age of 20, and some survivors still suffered respiratory problems from the smoke.
The Argentine court condemned the Callejeros group. The six musicians were convicted of arson, killed and served their sentences.
The Argentine judges considered the group “negligent” and “reckless” for presenting the show in a venue with several irregularities.
The place could accommodate a thousand people, but that night it gathered more than four thousand.
The tragedy also led to the dismissal of then-Mayor of Buenos Aires, Aníbal Ibarra, following impeachment proceedings in 2005.
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