Swiss Fire Tragedy Deepens as New Suspects Emerge in Deadly New Year Bar Inferno
Prosecutors investigating the devastating fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have widened their probe to include local officials, further raising questions about safety failings and potential negligence.
Two individuals, currently serving or formerly holding public office, are now under scrutiny as "defendants" in the case. While their identities remain undisclosed, documents suggest that they may have played a role in violating health and safety regulations at the bar, which resulted in 40 fatalities and numerous injuries on New Year's Eve.
According to reports, the municipality's head of public safety was summoned for questioning, with their lawyer maintaining that his client will reserve any statement until the public prosecutors make a decision. Meanwhile, a former council fire safety officer is set to be questioned by investigators in early February, sparking concerns about whether adequate measures were put in place to prevent such disasters.
Critics have long argued that local authorities failed to enforce regulations intended to safeguard customer lives and physical integrity. Documents obtained by Reuters reveal that past and present town hall officials could face prosecution for their alleged roles in the tragedy.
The Moretti couple, who own Le Constellation bar, continue to face formal charges of negligent manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson. The blaze is believed to have started after sparklers were held too close to a ceiling clad with flammable soundproofing foam.
Questions persist about fire extinguisher accessibility and exit compliance in the affected area, including an allegedly narrow staircase leading to the bar. Authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances of the inferno and establish potential criminal responsibility among all parties involved.
The investigation has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after revelations that Le Constellation's safety officers had not conducted a required annual inspection since 2019. As one document stated, "there are reasons to believe that the municipality failed in its duty to enforce various regulations intended to safeguard lives and physical integrity."
As the probe unfolds, it remains to be seen how many individuals will ultimately face consequences for their alleged roles in this devastating tragedy.
Prosecutors investigating the devastating fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have widened their probe to include local officials, further raising questions about safety failings and potential negligence.
Two individuals, currently serving or formerly holding public office, are now under scrutiny as "defendants" in the case. While their identities remain undisclosed, documents suggest that they may have played a role in violating health and safety regulations at the bar, which resulted in 40 fatalities and numerous injuries on New Year's Eve.
According to reports, the municipality's head of public safety was summoned for questioning, with their lawyer maintaining that his client will reserve any statement until the public prosecutors make a decision. Meanwhile, a former council fire safety officer is set to be questioned by investigators in early February, sparking concerns about whether adequate measures were put in place to prevent such disasters.
Critics have long argued that local authorities failed to enforce regulations intended to safeguard customer lives and physical integrity. Documents obtained by Reuters reveal that past and present town hall officials could face prosecution for their alleged roles in the tragedy.
The Moretti couple, who own Le Constellation bar, continue to face formal charges of negligent manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson. The blaze is believed to have started after sparklers were held too close to a ceiling clad with flammable soundproofing foam.
Questions persist about fire extinguisher accessibility and exit compliance in the affected area, including an allegedly narrow staircase leading to the bar. Authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances of the inferno and establish potential criminal responsibility among all parties involved.
The investigation has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after revelations that Le Constellation's safety officers had not conducted a required annual inspection since 2019. As one document stated, "there are reasons to believe that the municipality failed in its duty to enforce various regulations intended to safeguard lives and physical integrity."
As the probe unfolds, it remains to be seen how many individuals will ultimately face consequences for their alleged roles in this devastating tragedy.
. I mean, come on, who lets sparklers near foam ceiling? It's like they want to create a fireworks factory 
. And now we're finding out that local officials might've been too busy sipping champagne to care about actual safety regulations 
... how convenient 
. Needless to say, the investigation is going to be a wild ride 
, but I'm not holding my breath for any real accountability 
. The Moretti couple's lawyer is giving me life with their "reserve statement" excuse 
, like they're in some kind of bizarre hostage drama 
... how many more lives are gonna get sacrificed on the altar of bureaucratic red tape? 
And what about those fire extinguishers? Were they even accessible to everyone? This is a ticking time bomb waiting to happen if we don't get our act together. We need more stringent safety measures and better enforcement... Period. 
this is just heartbreaking man 40 people lost their lives to a preventable fire. The fact that local officials might've played a role in this is really worrying. I mean, who's gonna hold these people accountable? It's not like they're above the law or anything 
. And what about the owners of the bar? They're already getting charged with manslaughter... 40 lives lost for a sparkler gone wrong? That's just ridiculous 
.
And no one checks if the exit is clear for 40+ people? It's crazy! 
. Did they really think they could just ignore all the safety rules and get away with it? The Moretti couple is already in a world of trouble 
. 
This is getting out of hand. How did we even let it come to this? 40 people dead at a bar on NYE and now we're talking about public officials possibly being charged? It's just not right. The Moretti couple is already facing serious charges, but what about the folks who are supposed to be enforcing safety regulations? The investigation needs to get moving ASAP so we can start getting some answers 
I mean I know we cant blame them all but c'mon! 
The more I read about this case, the more questions I have, like how did they miss those annual inspections and why weren't fire extinguishers easily accessible?
We need to learn from this tragedy and make sure that no one else suffers the same fate. 
not buying it at all 
. I mean, come on, who lets flammable soundproofing foam near open flames? 
. But on the other hand, if there were indeed negligence involved, then someone should definitely be held responsible 
.
. Fingers crossed! 
. I mean, what's next? Are they gonna say it was all just a terrible accident and that nobody did anything wrong? 
And now we're hearing rumors of other people being under scrutiny too... this investigation needs to move way faster than it's going right now 
.