The co-owner of a Swiss nightclub where a devastating fire claimed at least 40 lives on New Year's Eve has spoken of his profound distress, revealing he and his wife "can't eat or sleep" in the wake of the tragedy.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The fire erupted at the Le Constellation Bar in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, during a packed celebration to welcome 2026. At least 40 people lost their lives and more than 100 others were injured, many suffering severe third-degree burns. The venue was filled with revellers from across the globe, including tourists and young people on holiday.
In his first public comments since the disaster, 49-year-old owner Jacques Moretti told Swiss publication 20 Minuten: "We can neither sleep nor eat, we are all very unwell." He and his wife, Jessica Moretti, 40, stressed that "everything had been done according to regulation" in preparation for the event.
Investigation Points to Sparklers as Cause
Authorities are focusing their investigation on the use of sparklers as the likely source of the blaze. Beatrice Pilloud, the attorney general for the Valais region, stated: "We assume that the fire originated from sparklers attached to champagne bottles. From there, the ceiling caught fire." The fire spread with terrifying speed, quickly consuming the building.
Ms Pilloud confirmed that probes are also examining the materials used in the bar's construction, the functionality of emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and whether the venue was over its occupancy limit.
Families in Agony as Nation Mourns
The aftermath has left families in an agonising state of uncertainty, with parents searching the resort for missing loved ones. Among those unaccounted for is British-educated teenager Charlotte Niddam, a former pupil of Immanuel College, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire.
In response to the national tragedy, Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced that the country will observe five days of mourning. The couple behind Le Constellation, who live on Corsica and fell in love with Crans-Montana on a 2011 holiday, opened the bar in December 2015. They had built a reputation as a successful hospitality team with other ventures in Switzerland.
While Jessica Moretti, who studied at the University of Glamorgan in South Wales, is believed to have been at the bar during the fire, her husband was not present. The couple has pledged full cooperation, with Mr Moretti adding: "We will do everything we can to help clarify the causes. Our lawyers are also involved."
