Swiss Bar Owners ‘Devastated’ As Safety Lapses Exposed

Swiss Bar Owners ‘Devastated’ As Safety Lapses Exposed

The owners of a Swiss bar where 40 people were killed and 116 injured in a New Year’s inferno say they are “devastated and overwhelmed with grief,” as officials confirmed the venue had not undergone a fire-safety inspection since 2019.

In their first public statement, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, owners of Le Constellation in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, pledged their full cooperation with prosecutors — who have launched a criminal investigation into alleged involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire.

Investigators believe the blaze erupted when sparkling candles fixed to champagne bottles ignited the ceiling, which was lined with soundproofing material now under scrutiny. Authorities are probing whether the material met safety standards and whether the use of sparklers was legal.

But the scandal deepened Tuesday when the local council admitted that mandatory annual safety checks were simply not carried out for five straight years.

“We bitterly regret this,” said Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Féraud, who said he could not yet explain why inspections stopped after 2019. Earlier reports show the venue was authorized to hold 100 people on each of its two floors — but investigators warn the true number inside that night may never be known.

All 40 victims and 116 injured — from multiple countries — have now been identified.

The mayor has since banned sparklers in all local venues, calling the move “a no-brainer,” as grief turns rapidly to anger in one of Switzerland’s deadliest peacetime fires.

The bar’s owners said they would “under no circumstances attempt to evade these matters.” But with the town’s inspection failures now exposed, the search for accountability has broadened far beyond a single venue.

Key Takeaways

• Le Constellation bar had no fire-safety inspections from 2020–2025.
• Sparkler candles are believed to have ignited the fatal blaze.
• Authorities are investigating both the bar owners and safety regulators.

SOURCE: EURO NEWS