Switzerland fell silent Friday in solemn remembrance of 40 victims, predominantly teenagers, who perished in a catastrophic New Year’s Eve blaze at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The Alpine nation observed a minute of silence at 2:00 PM local time, followed by a synchronized chorus of church bells echoing across valleys and mountainsides.
President Guy Parmelin, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, presided over a memorial ceremony in Martigny. The service drew top officials from Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia, and the European Union, reflecting the international scope of the tragedy that claimed lives from 19 different nationalities.
As heavy snowfall blanketed the resort town, investigators pursued critical questions about fire safety oversight. Prosecutors revealed no safety inspections had occurred at the establishment since 2019, prompting public outrage. The bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, faced questioning on charges including manslaughter by negligence and bodily harm by negligence.
Preliminary investigation suggests the inferno ignited when champagne bottles equipped with sparklers were raised too close to soundproofing foam on the ceiling. Disturbing video evidence depicts young revelers desperately breaking windows in attempts to escape the rapidly spreading flames.
Of the 116 injured, 83 remained hospitalized as of Monday, with the most severely burned patients transferred to specialized treatment centers across Europe. A makeshift memorial featuring flowers, candles, and photographs of victims now stands protected beneath a temporary structure, preserving tributes to what President Parmelin described as ‘one of Switzerland’s worst tragedies.’