A teenager who was injured when a deadly bar fire broke out in a Swiss ski resort on New Year's Eve has died in hospital, taking the death toll to 41, the local public prosecutor announced.
An 18-year-old Swiss national died at a hospital in Zurich on January 31, the Wallis canton's public prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said in a statement. No further information would be released at this stage.
The fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a venue known to be popular with a younger crowd, also injured 116 people, many of whom are still receiving treatment for severe burns. Switzerland’s Federal Office for Civil Protection reported that as of the most recent update, 44 patients are being treated abroad including 18 in France and others in Italy, Germany, and Belgium.
Initial findings suggest that the fire began when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foam that lined the bar’s ceiling. The bar had not undergone safety checks for five years, raising questions about regulatory oversight.
The owners of the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face serious charges including manslaughter by negligence. Meanwhile, Jacques Moretti is being held in custody while Jessica has been placed under a travel ban. She has expressed her sorrow over this unthinkable tragedy. Investigations are ongoing as the community seeks to address safety issues and hold responsible parties accountable for the disaster.
