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Prosecutors Seek Detention of Crans-Montana Bar Co-Owner as Switzerland Mourns 40 Fire Victims

Investigators say spark fountains likely ignited flammable ceiling insulation after years without required safety checks.

Overview

  • Jacques and Jessica Moretti were questioned for the first time, and prosecutors applied for pre-trial detention for Jacques Moretti on flight-risk grounds, not seeking the same measure for his wife.
  • A national remembrance in Martigny featured a minute of silence across Switzerland, with President Emmanuel Macron and President Sergio Mattarella in attendance as Swiss President Guy Parmelin urged a full accounting.
  • Authorities confirm 40 dead, about half of them minors with the youngest aged 14, and 116 injured, with multiple severe burn patients transferred to specialized hospitals, including 11 in Germany.
  • Early findings indicate party fountains attached to champagne bottles likely ignited combustible foam on the ceiling, and investigators are probing materials, exits and broader compliance issues.
  • Crans-Montana’s leadership acknowledged no mandated fire-safety inspection since 2019, victims’ lawyers have initiated civil action against the municipality, and insurer AXA warns policy limits may not cover total losses while urging a coordinated compensation plan.