In brief
Families of victims from the New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana were shocked to learn that the venue had not undergone safety checks in five years. With 40 lives lost and 116 injured, scrutiny of local authorities is intensifying amid allegations of negligence. The incident, reportedly caused by champagne bottle sparklers igniting sound-insulating foam, has prompted a criminal investigation into the bar managers. In response, local officials have accepted responsibility and announced a ban on the use of sparklers at local venues. Funeral services for the victims, many of whom were young, continue to be held across Switzerland.
Families of the victims of a fire at a Swiss bar on New Year's Eve have expressed shock after officials admitted the venue had not undergone safety checks for five years.
Romain Jordan, who represents some of the families, stated the staggering number of breaches and shortcomings in the inspections raises the question of whether the municipality should be investigated with even greater urgency.
Other lawyers are urging officials to take responsibility for the disaster at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where 40 people died and 116 were injured.
Prosecutors believe the fire started when champagne bottles with sparklers attached set light to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling.
The two bar managers have been placed under criminal investigation, but not in custody. The couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. In their first statement since the fire, they expressed being devastated and pledged full co-operation with the investigation.
Venues like Le Constellation should have been checked annually, but the mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Feraud, admitted he could not explain the lack of inspections. He stated, We regret that - we owe it to the families and we will accept the responsibility, and announced a ban on sparklers in local venues.
Most of the victims of the fire were young, with eight under the age of 16. Many of the injured suffer severe burns and are being treated in Switzerland and other European countries. Funerals for some of the deceased have been held.
