Owners of a bar at a ski resort are set to undergo further interrogation in court regarding a tragic fire that resulted in the deaths of 40 individuals and left 116 others injured.
Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti, proprietors of Le Constellation bar, appeared for questioning at the public prosecutor’s office in Sion, Switzerland this morning. The upscale Alpine bar in Crans-Montana was engulfed in flames during a New Year’s celebration, leading to a chaotic evacuation with numerous casualties.
The French couple faces charges including manslaughter due to negligence, bodily harm due to negligence, and arson due to negligence, in connection with the incident that claimed the lives of mostly teenagers and caused injuries to many others.
This fire ranks among the most devastating in Swiss history, prompting tributes to the victims. Reports suggest that the fire may have been ignited by candle sparklers brought too close to the ceiling, raising concerns about the ceiling material’s compliance with safety regulations.
Witnesses recounted seeing a bartender hoisting a colleague holding a lit sparkler on his shoulders, which triggered the blaze that ultimately caused the wooden ceiling to collapse. The chaotic evacuation from the basement nightclub through a narrow door led to a surge of people, with some resorting to breaking windows to escape.
Rescuers described scenes of horror and desperation, with severe injuries and burns among the casualties. The tragic event claimed lives of individuals aged between 14 and 39, including Charlotte Niddam, who had received education in Britain.
Families of the victims have lodged a legal complaint with the Swiss prosecutor’s office, led by Geneva-based lawyer Romain Jordan. Investigations are underway to scrutinize the renovation work done in 2015 amid allegations of inadequate safety measures, as well as the adequacy of fire extinguishers and fire exits.
In an interview with Switzerland’s Tribune de Genève newspaper, Mr. Moretti defended the bar’s safety record, stating that it had undergone multiple inspections over the years and operated within regulatory standards. The couple also owns two other establishments in Crans-Montana and Lens.
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