The Swiss nation stands united in grief as it commemorates a national day of mourning for the 40 lives lost in the devastating New Year’s Eve fire at the Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana. The Alpine country will observe a minute of silence at 2:00 PM local time (1300 GMT) on Friday, followed by a nationwide chorus of church bells, in solidarity with the victims’ families and the 116 injured survivors.
President Guy Parmelin has characterized the tragedy as among the worst in Switzerland’s history. A memorial ceremony will be held in Martigny, approximately 50 kilometers from the disaster site, with live broadcasts to screens throughout the snowbound resort town. International dignitaries from France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia, and the European Union will join Swiss officials in paying respects to victims representing 19 different nationalities.
The tragedy has revealed alarming safety oversights, with authorities acknowledging no fire inspections had occurred at the establishment since 2019. Prosecutors indicate the blaze originated when champagne bottles equipped with sparklers ignited highly flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling, potentially causing a flashover that trapped numerous young patrons. Disturbing footage has emerged showing desperate escape attempts through broken windows.
Half of those killed were minors under 18, some as young as 14. Of the injured, 83 remain hospitalized with severe burns requiring specialized care across Switzerland and abroad. The bar owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face charges of negligent manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson. While not detained, they have pledged full cooperation with investigators amid questions about safety standards and the presence of numerous minors at the event.
Compounding the tragedy, evidence suggests awareness of the fire risk existed years prior. A 2019 video released by Swiss broadcaster RTS shows a staff member warning about the dangerous foam during similar celebrations, indicating what legal representatives for affected families call ‘staggering’ prior knowledge of the hazard.