Families Shocked After Devastating Fire at Swiss Bar Uninspected for Five Years

Families of the Victims in Shock

The families of the victims of the fire at a bar in Switzerland, which occurred on New Year's Eve, are in shock after officials admitted that the establishment had not been inspected for five years. Romain Jordan, a representative of some families, stated, "The alarming number of deficiencies in inspections raises the question of whether the municipality should be investigated with even greater urgency."

Accountability and Consequences

Other lawyers have also called for officials to take responsibility for the disaster at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where 40 people died and 116 were injured. Prosecutors believe the fire was ignited when champagne bottles with attached fireworks sparked the insulating foam on the ceiling. The two managers of the bar have been placed under criminal investigation but have not been detained. The French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are suspected of negligent homicide, bodily injury, and negligence in causing the fire.

Official Reactions

In their first statement after the fire, they expressed that they are "devastated" and promised "full cooperation" with the investigation. Establishments like Le Constellation were supposed to be inspected annually, but Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud stated on Tuesday that he could not explain why no inspections had occurred for such a long time. "We regret this - we owe it to the families and we will take responsibility," he said.

Young Victims and Preventative Measures

Most of the victims of the fire were young, with eight being under the age of 16. Many of the injured suffered severe burns and are being treated in Switzerland and other European countries. Funerals for some of the deceased have already taken place. The mayor also announced that fireworks will be banned in local establishments.