Switzerland Observes Day of Mourning for Fire Victims

Switzerland held a national day of mourning on Friday for the 40 individuals who lost their lives in an Alpine bar fire during New Year’s Eve celebrations. This follows a request from prosecutors for one of the bar’s owners to be detained prior to trial.

Béatrice Piroud, the chief prosecutor in Valais, indicated that detaining the man was essential to mitigate any potential flight risk. The man’s wife, who co-manages the bar, will remain free under judicial monitoring.

The owners of Le Constellation bar, a French couple named Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are recorded in the Swiss commercial register. The tragic fire ignited less than two hours after midnight on January 1st, leading to injuries for 116 individuals, many of whom sustained serious harm.

Reports suggested that Moretti was taken into custody while awaiting a court decision, following the couple’s questioning by prosecutors in Sion on Friday morning.

Criminal investigations have been initiated against the owner, focusing on suspicions of involuntary murder, bodily harm, and fire-related offenses.

A memorial service marked the national mourning, with church bells ringing across Switzerland for five minutes starting at 2 PM. Across the country, people gathered to light candles, place flowers for the victims, and watch the national ceremony broadcast live on public television.

At a memorial service in Martigny, Swiss President Guy Palmerin remembered the tragedy, stating, “The memory of that terrible night illuminates the faces, the happy days and the carefree spirits of the 156 victims.” He emphasized the nation’s grief and offered support for those still recovering.

Investigators suspect that the fire may have originated from a candle placed too close to the ceiling atop a champagne bottle. Authorities are examining whether the soundproofing material in the ceiling meets safety standards and whether candles were permitted inside the bar. Notably, fire safety inspections haven’t been conducted since 2019.

The severity of the burns on some victims complicated identification, requiring families to provide DNA samples. Many of those who died were reportedly in their teens or early twenties.

Autopsies were ordered for five of the six Italian victims, with findings referred to public prosecutors in Milan, Bologna, and Genoa as their bodies were returned to their families.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her frustration, stating that what occurred was not merely a disaster, but rather a failure of responsibility among those involved. “Those responsible must be identified and prosecuted,” she added.

Meloni noted that the state attorney general’s office in Italy has contacted its Swiss counterpart to aid in the ongoing investigation. Additionally, a separate inquiry has been initiated by the Rome public prosecutor’s office. “The family has promised they will not be left alone while they seek justice,” she reassured.

In a related effort, the Paris public prosecutor’s office announced it would open an investigation to assist with the Swiss investigation and help facilitate communication for the families of the French victims. Among the casualties were nine French nationals, the youngest being just 14, and 23 others sustained injuries.