Criminal investigation begins in Switzerland over New Year’s Eve bar explosion. Photo courtesy: Valais Cantonal Police
Two bar owners are currently under criminal investigation after a devastating explosion killed 40 people and injured 119 others during a New Year’s Eve party at a bar in Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort. This development was announced by Swiss authorities on Saturday afternoon, January 3rd.
Bar fire destroys Swiss town
The incident occurred just before 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation, a bar popular with skiers. The venue was celebrating the arrival of the New Year and there were around 100 people in the bar, but multiple sudden and deadly explosions caused a fire that Swiss police described as “very intense”.
Smoke was detected inside the bar, an alarm was raised and emergency services were called. Shortly after, police, firefighters and several helicopters rushed to the scene, rescuing dozens of injured people and transporting them to nearby hospitals in Geneva and Lausanne.
The bar’s owner is under investigation for negligence. Prohibited fireworks, dangerous situations, and difficult to escape
Swiss public prosecutors in canton Valais have confirmed that the bar’s owners, a French couple named Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are being investigated for manslaughter, manslaughter and arson.
Investigators believe the fire started in the bar’s basement, and authorities leading the investigation are now focusing on the likely cause of the fire. It is suspected that fireworks, more specifically champagne sparklers that were ignited inside the bar and placed too close to the ceiling, set off the flames and ignited flammable foam on the ceiling. Several signs have been posted in the village where the bar is located prohibiting the use of fireworks.
The location and quality of the bar’s emergency exits are also under scrutiny.
The identification process is underway as the community grieves. The dead include many young victims.
During the investigation, efforts to identify the victim are underway with the help of the Zurich Forensic Institute and are expected to be completed by the afternoon of Sunday, January 4. On Saturday afternoon, Swiss authorities announced that they had been able to identify several of the victims, including a 21-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man, a 16-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and eight Swiss nationals. The dead likely included people of multiple nationalities, as the bar is a popular tourist spot where large holiday events are held. The bar was popular with young people in a ski resort town where drinking is prohibited from the age of 16, so many teenagers were among the dead and missing.
While the investigation is ongoing, the Swiss city of Crans-Montana is in mourning, with visitors leaving bouquets, stuffed animals and letters of love, hope, condolences and support outside the bar’s police fence.
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