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Investigators said Friday they believe sparkling candles placed on Champagne bottles may have sparked a catastrophic fire at a Swiss ski resort after coming too close to the ceiling of a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Authorities are examining whether sound-dampening ceiling materials at the Le Constellation bar met safety regulations and whether the sparkler-style candles — which emit upward-shooting sparks — were permitted for indoor use. Officials are also reviewing fire extinguishers, escape routes and other safety measures. The Valais region’s attorney general warned that prosecutions could follow if criminal responsibility is established.

At least 40 people were killed and 119 injured when the blaze tore through the basement bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana early Thursday, making it one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland’s history.

Families continued to search for loved ones as authorities worked to identify victims. Among those missing was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard of Lausanne. His mother, Laetitia, said she still held “a glimmer of hope” that he might be among six injured people yet to be identified. “I want to know where my child is and be by his side, whether in intensive care or the morgue,” she told reporters.

Valais police commander Frédéric Gisler said the injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French citizens and 11 Italians, along with people from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland. The nationalities of 14 victims remain unclear.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the fire spread rapidly. Survivors said servers entered the bar carrying Champagne bottles topped with burning sparklers shortly before flames erupted. Some recounted a frantic rush toward narrow exits, with people smashing windows to escape.

Local officials praised acts of bravery by patrons who helped others flee the inferno. Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard said many lives were saved by the courage and solidarity shown in the first moments, often by young people before emergency crews arrived.

The severity of the burns has complicated the identification process, forcing authorities to rely on DNA samples after personal documents were destroyed in the blaze.

Crans-Montana, set high in the Alps and known for hosting major international skiing events, has been left reeling as the investigation continues into one of the country’s worst peacetime disasters.