Swiss police have confirmed that all 116 people injured in the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have now been identified. The blaze, which erupted on New Year's Eve, claimed 40 lives, most of them young partygoers.
Victims Identified and Repatriations Begin
Authorities in the canton of Valais revised the initial injury count down from 119, explaining that three people treated at accident and emergency on the morning of the fire had been incorrectly linked to the incident. The final death toll stands at 40, with the last victims identified this past Sunday.
The victims, aged between 14 and 39, were overwhelmingly young. Twenty of those who died were minors, and the average age was just 19. While official names have not been released, many families have come forward. The nationalities of the deceased included 21 Swiss, nine French (including two dual nationals), six Italians, and one person each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey.
On Monday, a solemn repatriation process began. The bodies of five of the six Italian nationals who perished were flown from Sion airport to Italy. Swiss police officers carried the coffins onto an Italian transport plane in a moving ceremony. The plane was scheduled to land in Milan before continuing to Rome.
Mounting Pressure for Answers and Ongoing Investigation
As the community grieves, pressure is intensifying on Swiss authorities to explain how the tragedy occurred. The investigation is focusing on the bar's owners, French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are under suspicion for homicide by negligence. The public prosecutor has stated the couple are not currently under arrest and are not considered a flight risk, a decision questioned by some Swiss media.
The suspected cause of the fire is that sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the basement ceiling, which appears to have been clad with soundproofing foam. This has raised serious questions about safety standards, age checks at the venue, and the materials used in the building's construction.
Jacques Moretti has defended the establishment, stating it had been inspected three times in a decade and was fully compliant. Local officials in Crans-Montana have also said no prior concerns or defects had been reported. The municipality has joined the criminal proceedings as a civil party to help establish the facts.
A Community in Mourning and International Response
The resort town of Crans-Montana will hold a memorial ceremony for the victims on Friday, which French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend. The international dimension of the tragedy has prompted strong reactions. Italy's ambassador to Switzerland pledged close cooperation with the investigation to ensure justice is served.
Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini commented on social media, suggesting that "in civilised Switzerland, the prison gates will have to open for quite a few people" following what he described as a failure to ensure the basement's safety.
Of the 116 injured, 83 remain in hospital with severe burns. The nationalities of the wounded reflect the international crowd at the popular ski resort bar, including 68 Swiss, 21 French, 10 Italians, four Serbs, and two Poles, among others.
