Criminal Investigation Launched After Deadly Fire at Swiss Bar During New Year's Event
Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana is under criminal investigation following a devastating fire during New Year celebrations in the early hours of Thursday. The blaze resulted in at least 40 deaths and injured more than 100 people. The investigation is focusing on the bar's managers, who are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing fire by negligence.
Four victims have been identified so far: two Swiss women aged 21 and 16, and two Swiss men aged 18 and 16. Among the casualties are also Italian teenagers, including the first reported deceased, 17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, and 16-year-old Chiara Costanzo.
The bar owners, French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who also run two other establishments in Crans-Montana and Lens, have been questioned along with others involved. The bar had been inspected three times over ten years according to owner Moretti. Initial investigations suggest that sparklers on champagne bottles may have caused the fire. Authorities continue the process of identifying the dead and injured. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the tragedy as one of the worst the country has experienced.
