A devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has revealed alarming safety oversights, with new allegations emerging about inadequate staff training. Cyane Panine, a 24-year-old employee who perished in the blaze that claimed 40 lives and injured 116 others, had received no safety instruction and was unaware of the dangerous ceiling materials, according to her family’s legal representative.
Sophie Haenni, the lawyer representing Panine’s family, stated in an official declaration that the young employee ‘wasn’t supposed to be serving tables’ on the fateful evening but had been directed to assist with high champagne demand. ‘Cyane simply followed instructions given, did her job, and did so in front of the manager,’ Haenni emphasized, noting the complete absence of safety training regarding the ceiling’s flammability.
Initial investigative findings indicate the inferno originated when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited highly flammable soundproof foam lining the ceiling—materials that had not undergone mandatory safety inspections for five years at the popular ski resort establishment.
The bar’s French proprietors, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, now face severe legal consequences including charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Swiss judicial authorities have imposed strict measures against both owners, citing substantial flight risks. Jessica Moretti remains under travel restrictions with surrendered passport and daily police reporting requirements, while Jacques Moretti has been detained for an initial 90-day period.
In response to the catastrophe, the Swiss canton of Valais has enacted an immediate prohibition on pyrotechnic devices within all indoor public venues. Authorities have additionally established a victim support fund, offering emergency payments of 10,000 francs ($12,500) to each affected family.
The family’s legal statement portrayed Panine as having felt ‘used’ and ‘suffering from her working conditions’ prior to the incident, expressing ‘incomprehension at the lack of empathy and understanding from her employers’ regarding excessive workloads. Haenni concluded that adherence to basic safety standards and regular inspections ‘could have avoided’ the tragic casualties, unequivocally stating: ‘Cyane is undoubtedly a victim.’