Prosecutors in Switzerland have opened a criminal investigation into two local officials in connection with the deadly New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which killed 40 people. The municipality's head of public safety and a former fire safety officer are now considered defendants in the case, according to documents seen by Reuters.
The head of public safety has been summoned for a hearing next Friday, while the former fire safety officer is due to be questioned on 9 February. Their lawyers confirmed the appointments but declined to comment further. Until now, only the bar's French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, faced formal charges of negligent manslaughter, bodily harm and arson.
The fire, which also injured 116 people, mostly teenagers, is believed to have started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproofing foam on the ceiling of a basement party room. Questions have been raised about the lack of fire extinguishers and whether the single narrow staircase complied with safety regulations.
The investigation aims to determine if the municipality failed in its duty to enforce safety regulations. The mayor admitted that annual safety checks had not been carried out since 2019. Prosecutors rejected the council's request to become a party to the case, citing potential failings by both staff and council members.
The victims included 21 Swiss, nine French, six Italians, and citizens of Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. The Morettis have expressed grief and pledged full cooperation. The fire is one of the worst disasters in modern Swiss history.
