Switzerland observed a solemn day of national mourning on Friday as church bells resonated across the nation, commemorating the 40 young lives tragically lost in the New Year’s Eve inferno at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The emotional commemorations were immediately overshadowed by significant judicial developments, with authorities detaining bar co-owner Jacques Moretti following a reassessment of his flight risk.
The memorial ceremony in Martigny witnessed heartbreaking scenes as grieving families, survivors—some still hospitalized—and international dignitaries including the presidents of France and Italy gathered in solidarity. Attendees clasped white roses and held hands for comfort during the service, where firsthand accounts revealed the horror of the catastrophic blaze.
Marie, a witness who assisted victims from the adjacent bar, delivered a chilling testimony: “We faced unbearable images—a scene worse than nightmare. Screams piercing the icy cold, the smell of burning. It was apocalyptic.” Her words echoed through the ceremony attended by representatives from nations whose citizens perished in the tragedy.
Judicial authorities have launched a negligence investigation against both bar owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, for allegedly causing death and injury through negligence. Jessica Moretti broke her silence after questioning, stating: “I constantly think of the victims. It happened in our establishment, and I would like to apologize for this unimaginable tragedy.”
Emerging evidence paints a disturbing picture of preventable failures. Mobile footage indicates the fire originated from a sparkler contacting soundproofing foam that had never undergone safety testing. Additional footage from six years prior reveals staff warnings about the flammable ceiling material, raising questions about long-standing negligence.
Local authorities admitted to not conducting mandatory safety inspections for five years, compounding the systemic failures. Italy’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, emphasized the demand for justice: “It was a hell inside that bar with over 1,000 degrees temperature. There was no way to escape.”
Medical personnel at Sion regional hospital faced extraordinary challenges, with doctors fearing their own children might be among the victims. Hospital director Eric Bonvin described the identification process for severely burned victims and the long recovery ahead as a “rebirth” process for those facing life-altering injuries.
The tragedy continues to resonate through the community where makeshift memorials grow daily, protected from the elements by canvas, as Switzerland seeks answers and accountability for one of its deadliest modern disasters.